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
Legislature	Penang State Legislative Assembly
MLA	Joseph Ng Soon Siang 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

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]

1. Chinese (64.86%)
2. Malay (23.25%)
3. Indian (11.1%)
4. 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.

Representation history

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

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

Penang state election, 2023

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

Penang state election, 2018

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.

Penang state election, 2013

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.

Penang state election, 2008

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		?

Malaysian general by-election, 7 November 1965: Ayer Itam
Upon the death of incumbent, Chor Sin Kheng

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%[7]
	Socialist Front	Lim Kean Siew	2,836	35.35
	Alliance	David Choong	2,463	30.70
	UDP	Tan Gim Hwa	2,683	33.44
Total valid votes			7,982	99.49
Total rejected ballots			41	0.51
Unreturned ballots			0
Turnout			8,023	78.37
Registered electors			10,237
Majority			153	NA	NA
	Socialist Front gain		Swing		{{{3}}}

See also

• Constituencies of Penang