Air Itam is a state constituency in Penang, Malaysia, that has been represented in the Penang State Legislative Assembly since 1959. It covers much of Air Itam, a western suburb of George Town.
 Penang constituency | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Air Itam (olive) on Penang | |||
| State constituency | |||
| Legislature | Penang State Legislative Assembly | ||
| MLA |
PH | ||
| Constituency created | 1959 (as Ayer Itam) | ||
| First contested | 1959 | ||
| Last contested | 2023 | ||
| Demographics | |||
| Electors (2023)[1] | 23,085 | ||
| Area (km²)[2] | 3 | ||
The state constituency was first contested in 1959 and is mandated to return a single Assemblyman to the Penang State Legislative Assembly under the first-past-the-post voting system. Since 2018[update], the State Assemblyman for Air Itam is Joseph Ng Soon Seong from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), which is part of the state's ruling coalition, Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Definition
editPolling districts
editAccording to the federal gazette issued on 18 July 2023, the Air Itam constituency is divided into 9 polling districts.[3]
| State constituency | Polling districts | Code | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Itam (N33) | Ayer Itam | 051/33/01 | SJK (C) Kong Min Cawangan Satu |
| Happy Valley | 051/33/02 | SJK (C) Chiao Nan | |
| Jalan Kampong Pisang | 051/33/03 | SK Sri Aman | |
| Kampong Melayu | 051/33/04 | SK Ayer Itam | |
| Jalan Chor Sin Kheng | 051/33/05 | SM Chung Ling (Persendirian) | |
| Thean Teik | 051/33/06 | SJK (C) Sin Kang | |
| Zoo Road | 051/33/07 | SMJK Chung Ling | |
| Jalan Shaik Madar | 051/33/08 | SMJK Chung Ling | |
| Cheeseman Road | 051/33/09 | SMK Georgetown |
This state seat comprises a large chunk of Air Itam, a suburb of George Town nestled in the central valleys of Penang Island.[4] The 'old town', which contains the Air Itam Market and the Kek Lok Si Temple, is also situated within this constituency.
Air Itam Road forms the northern limits of the Air Itam constituency, with the portion of Air Itam north of the road falling under either Air Putih or Kebun Bunga constituencies. To the south, the Air Itam seat is partly bounded along the Dondang River; the portion of Air Itam south of the river, including Farlim, falls under the neighbouring Paya Terubong constituency. The Air Itam constituency also stretches up to Green Lane and Scotland Road to the east.
Demographics
edit| Polling district | Electors |
|---|---|
| Ayer Itam | 2,362 |
| Cheeseman Road | 1,291 |
| Happy Valley | 2,112 |
| Jalan Chor Sin Kheng | 2,178 |
| Jalan Kampong Pisang | 1,707 |
| Jalan Shaik Madar | 1,449 |
| Kampong Melayu | 3,133 |
| Thean Teik | 3,375 |
| Zoo Road | 1,292 |
| Total | 18,899 |
| Source: Malaysian Election Commission[6] | |
History
editThe Air Itam state constituency was originally named Ayer Itam when it was formed prior to the 1959 State Elections. The seat was then given its present name in time for the 1995 State Election.
Since its formation in 1959, the Air Itam seat has experienced one by-election. The 1965 Ayer Itam by-election marked the first time an opposition party captured the constituency, as Lim Kean Siew from the Labour Party became the State Assemblyman for Ayer Itam until the 1969 State Election.
Representation history
edit| Members of the Legislative Assembly for Air Itam | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly | Years | Member | Party |
| Constituency created | |||
| Ayer Itam | |||
| 1st | 1959 – 1964 | Chor Sin Kheng | Alliance (MCA) |
| 2nd | 1964 – 1965 | ||
| 1965 – 1969 | Lim Kean Siew | Socialist Front (Lab) | |
| 1969 - 1971 | Assembly dissolved | ||
| 3rd | 1971 – 1974 | Tan Phock Kin | Gerakan |
| 4th | 1974 – 1978 | David Choong Ewe Leong | BN (MCA) |
| 5th | 1978 – 1982 | Peter Paul Dason | DAP |
| 6th | 1982 – 1986 | Lee Jong Ki | BN (MCA) |
| 7th | 1986 – 1990 | Gooi Hock Seng | DAP |
| 8th | 1990 – 1995 | Ong Hock Aun | GR (DAP) |
| Air Itam | |||
| 9th | 1995 – 1999 | Lye Siew Weng | BN (MCA) |
| 10th | 1999 – 2004 | ||
| 11th | 2004 – 2008 | Cheang Chee Gooi | BN (Gerakan) |
| 12th | 2008 – 2013 | Wong Hon Wai | PR (DAP) |
| 13th | 2013 – 2018 | ||
| 14th | 2018 – 2023 | Joseph Ng Soon Siang | PH (DAP) |
| 15th | 2023–present | ||
Election results
editThe electoral results for the Air Itam state constituency in 2008, 2013 and 2018 are as follows.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PH | Joseph Ng Soon Siang | 12,456 | 79.20 |  0.60
| ||
| PN | Cheang Chee Gooi | 3,267 | 20.80 |  20.80
| ||
| Total valid votes | 15,723 | 100.00 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 124 | |||||
| Unreturned ballots | 26 | |||||
| Turnout | 15,873 | 68.76 | 12.74
| |||
| Registered electors | 23,085 | |||||
| Majority | 9,185 | 58.40 | 2.10
| |||
| PH hold | Swing | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PH | Joseph Ng Soon Siang | 12,588 | 79.80 | 79.80
| ||
| BN | Tan Kah Leong | 3,047 | 19.30 | 6.80
| ||
| Malaysian United Party | Kang Teik Woi | 148 | 0.90 | 0.90
| ||
| Total valid votes | 15,783 | 100.00 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 151 | |||||
| Unreturned ballots | 54 | |||||
| Turnout | 15,988 | 81.50 | 2.80
| |||
| Registered electors | 19,622 | |||||
| Majority | 9,541 | 60.50 | 12.70
| |||
| PH hold | Swing | |||||
Source(s) "His Majesty's Government Gazette - Notice of Contested Election, State Legislative Assembly for the State of Penang [P.U. (B) 252/2018]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-01.[permanent dead link] "Federal Government Gazette - Results of Contested Election and Statements of the Poll after the Official Addition of Votes, State Constituencies for the State of Penang [P.U. (B) 326/2018]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 28 May 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 2018-08-01. | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAP | Wong Hon Wai | 11,308 | 73.90 | 12.60
| ||
| BN | Loo Jieh Sheng | 3,992 | 26.10 | 12.60
| ||
| Total valid votes | 15,300 | 100.00 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 193 | |||||
| Unreturned ballots | 31 | |||||
| Turnout | 15,524 | 84.30 | 11.00
| |||
| Registered electors | 18,407 | |||||
| Majority | 7,316 | 47.80 | 25.20
| |||
| Air Itam hold | Swing | DAP | ||||
Source(s)
"Federal Government Gazette - Notice of Contested Election, State Legislative Assembly for the State of Penang [P.U. (B) 189/2013]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 2016-05-21.[permanent dead link] "Federal Government Gazette - Results of Contested Election and Statements of the Poll after the Official Addition of Votes, State Constituencies for the State of Penang [P.U. (B) 230/2013]" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia. 22 May 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 2016-05-21. | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAP | Wong Hon Wai | 7,401 | 61.30 | ||
| BN | Cheang Chee Gooi | 4,674 | 38.70 | ||
| Total valid votes | 12,075 | 100.00 | |||
| Total rejected ballots | 182 | ||||
| Unreturned ballots | 3 | ||||
| Turnout | 12,260 | 73.30 | |||
| Registered electors | 16,721 | ||||
| Majority | 2,727 | 22.60 | |||
| DAP gain from BN | Swing | ?
| |||
See also
editReferences
edit"Keputusan Pilihan Raya Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya". Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 2016-04-24. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
- ^ "Electoral Roll for the 14th Malaysian General Election Updated as of 10 April 2018" (PDF) (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. 2018-04-16. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-04-25. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
- ^ Laporan Kajian Semula Persempadanan Mengenai Syor-Syor Yang Dicadangkan Bagi Bahagian-Bahagian Pilihan Raya Persekutuan Dan Negeri Di Dalam Negeri-Negeri Tanah Melayu Kali Keenam Tahun 2018 Jilid 1 (PDF) (Report) (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-04-12. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
- ^ "Federal Government Gazette, Notice Under Subregulation 11(5A) Polling Hours For the General Election of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Penang" (PDF). Attorney General's Chambers. 15 July 2023.
- ^ "Story Map Journal". Retrieved 2017-04-22.
- ^ "15th Penang State Election - Results Overview". live.chinapress.com. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ "Report on the Redelineation of Electoral Constituencies in Peninsular Malaysia in 2018" (PDF). Election Commission of Malaysia. 1. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-04-12. Retrieved 2018-04-22.