New faces determined to promote cleaner environment

At the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP), newly appointed councillor Dr Tiun Ling Ta, 55, said he hoped to play an active role in the council’s infrastructure committee to further improve public facilities, especially for the disabled.

“Unlike in George Town, there are hardly any public amenities meant for the disabled in Seberang Prai,” said Dr Tiun who was among the candidates nominated by Pe-nang Forum 3 and is the Society of the Orthopaedically Handicapped Malaysia president.

He said he was currently training some Rapid Penang bus drivers on providing proper assistance to disabled passengers.

Penang Dapsy treasurer Sim Chee Keong said his appointment as an MPSP councillor would be a double celebration as he would be tying the knot on Saturday, a day after the swearing-in cere-mony.

Sim, 29, who is Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng’s special assistant, said he would be marrying company logistics executive Chan Jor Rin, 29, in a church in George Town.

“My predecessors in the council have successfully turned around the council’s finances from near bankruptcy to surplus revenue.

“I hope to help utilise the surplus to further improve the council’s services, apart from looking into the recreational needs of the community in Seberang Prai,” he said.

Batu Kawan DAP parliamentary liaison committee treasurer K. Vis-vanathan, 62, said he would use his experience as a former Chai Leng Park JKKK chairman to convey the people’s problems to the council.

“I am quite familiar with the council’s functions concerning clogged drains, uncollected garbage and licence applications,” said the businessman.

Tasek Gelugor PKR division committee member Baktiar Appandi Yahya, 55, a pest control company branch manager, said he hoped to play the role of a “mini elected representative” to bridge the gap between the people and the authorities.

Abdul Latif, 44, PKR Kepala Batas Branch Chief of the new council member of the MPSP,

"I would focus on efforts to create a clean and healthy environment to strengthen the MPSP and Community Safety & Development Committee (JKKK) to provide better service to the community."