GEORGE TOWN, March 31 — Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) president Datuk Patahiyah Ismail was officially appointed as the first mayor of the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) in a ceremony before the state governor this morning.
Patahiyah, who was the first female council president when she was appointed in 2010, said the city status declaration afforded to Penang brings with it challenges and heavier responsibilities.
“We have to continue to deliver efficient services with an emphasis on an outcome based administration,” she said when delivering her maiden speech at the City Hall here today.
She attributed part of the state’s success in attaining city status to the commitment displayed by the council workers.
“So, we must strive to continue with the good work and to improve the quality of our services and management,” she said.
This morning, the Penang Yang diPertua Negri Tun Dr Abdul Rahman Abbas declared the MPPP as the MBPP in an official ceremony at his Sri Mutiara.
He read out the declaration that was signed by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah on March 10 this year.
Patahiyah’s appointment was announced by the Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
George Town was initially conferred the city status by Queen Elizabeth II back in 1957, the first town to be afforded the status in then Malaya.
However, the status was never acknowledged until the Penang Pakatan Rakyat state government applied for Putrajaya to do so.
The Cabinet approved the application in November last year and the Agong signed the declaration on March 10 for the city status to be effective from January 1 this year.
With the city status, the MBPP will cover 305 sq km on the island and will be setting up four new departments — landscaping, heritage, enforcement and solid waste management and public cleanliness.
There are now 13 cities in Malaysia including Penang.
The other cities are Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Alor Setar, Johor Baru, Malacca City, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Kinabalu, Miri, Kuching North and Kuching South.
