Air Itam (Penang state constituency)

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.

Air Itam
Penang constituency
Air Itam (olive) on Penang
State constituency
LegislaturePenang State Legislative Assembly
MLA
 
 
 
Joseph Ng Soon Siang
PH
Constituency created1959 (as Ayer Itam)
First contested1959
Last contested2023
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, 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

edit

Polling districts

edit

According to the federal gazette issued on 18 July 2023, the Air Itam constituency is divided into 9 polling districts.[3]

State constituencyPolling districtsCodeLocation
Air Itam (N33)Ayer Itam051/33/01SJK (C) Kong Min Cawangan Satu
Happy Valley051/33/02SJK (C) Chiao Nan
Jalan Kampong Pisang051/33/03SK Sri Aman
Kampong Melayu051/33/04SK Ayer Itam
Jalan Chor Sin Kheng051/33/05SM Chung Ling (Persendirian)
Thean Teik051/33/06SJK (C) Sin Kang
Zoo Road051/33/07SMJK Chung Ling
Jalan Shaik Madar051/33/08SMJK Chung Ling
Cheeseman Road051/33/09SMK 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

Ethnic breakdown of Air Itam's electorate as of 2023[5]

  Chinese (64.86%)
  Malay (23.25%)
  Indian (11.10%)
  Other ethnicities (0.79%)
Total electors by polling district in 2016
Polling districtElectors
Ayer Itam2,362
Cheeseman Road1,291
Happy Valley2,112
Jalan Chor Sin Kheng2,178
Jalan Kampong Pisang1,707
Jalan Shaik Madar1,449
Kampong Melayu3,133
Thean Teik3,375
Zoo Road1,292
Total18,899
Source: Malaysian Election Commission[6]

History

edit

The 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
AssemblyYearsMemberParty
Constituency created
Ayer Itam
1st1959 – 1964Chor Sin KhengAlliance (MCA)
2nd1964 – 1965
1965 – 1969Lim Kean SiewSocialist Front (Lab)
1969 - 1971Assembly dissolved
3rd1971 – 1974Tan Phock KinGerakan
4th1974 – 1978David Choong Ewe LeongBN (MCA)
5th1978 – 1982Peter Paul DasonDAP
6th1982 – 1986Lee Jong KiBN (MCA)
7th1986 – 1990Gooi Hock SengDAP
8th1990 – 1995Ong Hock AunGR (DAP)
Air Itam
9th1995 – 1999Lye Siew WengBN (MCA)
10th1999 – 2004
11th2004 – 2008Cheang Chee GooiBN (Gerakan)
12th2008 – 2013Wong Hon WaiPR (DAP)
13th2013 – 2018
14th2018 – 2023Joseph Ng Soon SiangPH (DAP)
15th2023–present

Election results

edit

The electoral results for the Air Itam state constituency in 2008, 2013 and 2018 are as follows.

Penang state election, 2023
PartyCandidateVotes%∆%
PHJoseph Ng Soon Siang12,45679.20 0.60
PNCheang Chee Gooi3,26720.80 20.80
Total valid votes15,723 100.00
Total rejected ballots124
Unreturned ballots26
Turnout15,87368.76 12.74
Registered electors23,085
Majority9,18558.40 2.10
PH holdSwing
Penang state election, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%∆%
PHJoseph Ng Soon Siang12,58879.80 79.80
BNTan Kah Leong3,04719.30 6.80
Malaysian United PartyKang Teik Woi1480.90 0.90
Total valid votes15,783100.00
Total rejected ballots151
Unreturned ballots54
Turnout15,98881.50 2.80
Registered electors19,622
Majority9,54160.50 12.70
PH holdSwing
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.
Penang state election, 2013
PartyCandidateVotes%∆%
DAPWong Hon Wai11,30873.90 12.60
BNLoo Jieh Sheng3,99226.10 12.60
Total valid votes15,300 100.00
Total rejected ballots193
Unreturned ballots31
Turnout15,52484.30 11.00
Registered electors18,407
Majority7,31647.80 25.20
Air Itam holdSwingDAP
Penang state election, 2008
PartyCandidateVotes%∆%
DAPWong Hon Wai7,40161.30
BNCheang Chee Gooi4,67438.70
Total valid votes12,075 100.00
Total rejected ballots182
Unreturned ballots3
Turnout12,26073.30
Registered electors16,721
Majority2,72722.60
DAP gain from BNSwing?


See also

edit

References

edit

"Keputusan Pilihan Raya Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya". Election Commission of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 2016-04-24. Retrieved 2016-05-21.