GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has announced the appointment of 48 individuals as council members for the Penang City Council (MBPP) and the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP), with five new faces joining the ranks for the 2025 term.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, State Local Government, Town, and Country Planning Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye stated that the appointments include 24 councillors for each of the two local government authorities. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for this Friday. The composition of the councillors is as follows: 20 from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), 17 from the People's Justice Party (PKR), six from Parti Amanah Negara, three from Barisan Nasional, and two from non-governmental organizations.

The newly appointed members are T. Visvenathan from DAP for the Penang City Council, and Lim Eng Nam, Azman Rahim, and Yeoh Kim Kim from PKR, along with Zulkiply Ishak from Amanah for the Seberang Perai Municipal Council. The appointments were approved by the State Executive Council on December 18 and will be effective from January 1 to December 31, 2025.

H'ng highlighted that the appointments were made under Section 10(2) of the Local Government Act 1976, with a focus on candidates' experience in local administration, professional achievements, and their ability to represent community interests. He expressed hope that the new and existing members will contribute actively to the administration, bringing innovative ideas and collaborative efforts to maintain and enhance the excellence of Penang's local government authorities.

The integration of diverse experiences and fresh perspectives is anticipated to bolster the administrative framework of the local government bodies, aligning with Penang's goals of delivering superior service to its residents.