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

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.

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

Polling districts

According 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

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 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

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.

Penang State Legislative Assemblyman for Air Itam
Assembly Years Member Party
Constituency created
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
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

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

Penang state election, 2023
Party Candidate Votes %∆%
PHJoseph Ng Soon Siang12,45679.20Decrease 0.60
PNCheang Chee Gooi3,26720.80Increase 20.80
Total valid votes 15,723 100.00
Total rejected ballots 124
Unreturned ballots 26
Turnout 15,87368.76Decrease 12.74
Registered electors 23,085
Majority 9,18558.40Decrease 2.10
PH hold Swing
Penang state election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %∆%
PHJoseph Ng Soon Siang12,58879.80Increase 79.80
BNTan Kah Leong3,04719.30Decrease 6.80
Malaysian United PartyKang Teik Woi1480.90Increase 0.90
Total valid votes 15,783100.00
Total rejected ballots 151
Unreturned ballots 54
Turnout 15,98881.50Decrease 2.80
Registered electors 19,622
Majority 9,54160.50Increase 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.

"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
Party Candidate Votes %∆%
DAPWong Hon Wai11,30873.90Increase 12.60
BNLoo Jieh Sheng3,99226.10Decrease 12.60
Total valid votes 15,300 100.00
Total rejected ballots 193
Unreturned ballots 31
Turnout 15,52484.30Increase 11.00
Registered electors 18,407
Majority 7,31647.80Increase 25.20
DAP hold Swing
Penang state election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %∆%
DAPWong Hon Wai7,40161.30
BNCheang Chee Gooi4,67438.70
Total valid votes 12,075 100.00
Total rejected ballots 182
Unreturned ballots 3
Turnout 12,26073.30
Registered electors 16,721
Majority 2,72722.60
DAP gain from BN Swing ?

See also

References

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

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