Air Putih (Penang state constituency)

Air Putih is a state constituency in Penang, Malaysia, that has been represented in the Penang State Legislative Assembly since 2004. It covers the northern part of Air Itam, a suburb of George Town that is located in the central part of Penang Island.

Air Putih
Penang constituency
Air Putih (olive) on Penang
State constituency
LegislaturePenang State Legislative Assembly
MLA
 
 
 
Lim Guan Eng
PH
Constituency created2004
First contested2004
Last contested2023
Demographics
Population (2020)[1]14,744
Electors (2023)[2]15,371
Area (km²)[3]29

The state constituency was first contested in 2004 and is mandated to return a single Assemblyman to the Penang State Legislative Assembly under the first-past-the-post voting system. Since 2008, the State Assemblyman for Air Putih is Lim Guan Eng from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), which is part of the state's ruling coalition, Pakatan Harapan (PH). Lim was also the Chief Minister of Penang between 2008 and 2018.[4]

Definition

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The Air Putih constituency contains the polling districts of Bukit Bendera (Penang Hill), Hye Keat Estate, Jalan Lintang, Race Course, Reservoir Gardens, Stesen Bawah (referring to the Penang Hill Railway Lower Station) and Taman Sempadan.

Polling districts

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According to the federal gazette issued on 18 July 2023, the Air Putih constituency is divided into 7 polling districts.[5]

State constituency Polling districts Code Location
Air Putih (N23) Bukit Bendera 048/23/01 Dewan Jawatankuasa Kemajuan Dan Keselamatan Kampong (JKKK) Bukit Bendera
Stesyen Bawah 048/23/02 Dewan Jawatankuasa Kemajuan Dan Keselamatan Kampong (JKKK) Bukit Bendera
Jalan Lintang 048/23/03 SJK (C) Kong Min Pusat
Hye Keat Estate 048/23/04 SJK (C) Kong Min Pusat
Reservoir Gardens 048/23/05 SJK (C) Chung Hwa Confucian 'A'
Race Course 048/23/06 SJK (C) Shang Wu
Taman Sempadan 048/23/07 SJK (C) Chung Hwa Confucian 'B'

Aside from the northern part of the Air Itam suburb, colloquially known as Air Putih by the locals, much of the state seat is sparsely populated, consisting of hilly and forested areas that include the Penang Hill.[6]

The Air Putih seat is bounded to the southeast by Air Itam Road; the portion of Air Itam south of the road falls under the Air Itam constituency. This constituency also stretches up to the residential areas of Air Itam south of the Rifle Range neighbourhood, with Rifle Range coming under the neighbouring Kebun Bunga seat.

Demographics

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Ethnic breakdown of Air Putih's electorate as of 2023[7]

  Chinese (80.03%)
  Malay (9.88%)
  Indian (9.36%)
  Other ethnicities (0.73%)
Total electors by polling district in 2016
Polling district Electors
Bukit Bendera 309
Hye Keat Estate 2,814
Jalan Lintang 2,129
Race Course 2,429
Reservoir Gardens 2,690
Stesen Bawah 271
Taman Sempadan 2,110
Total 12,752
Source: Malaysian Election Commission[8]

History

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Penang State Legislative Assemblyman for Air Putih
Assembly Years Member Party
Constituency created from Air Itam
11th 2004 – 2008 Lye Siew Weng BN (MCA)
12th 2008 – 2013 Lim Guan Eng PR (DAP)
13th 2013 – 2018
14th 2018 – 2023 PH (DAP)
15th 2023–present

Election results

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The electoral results for the Air Putih state constituency are as follows.

Penang state election, 2023
Party Candidate Votes % ∆%
PH Lim Guan Eng 8,996 85.63  0.02
PN Koh Cheng Ann 1,073 10.21   10.21
Parti Rakyat Malaysia Teh Yee Cheu 437 4.16   4.16
Total valid votes 10,506 100.00
Total rejected ballots 61
Unreturned ballots 16
Turnout 10,583 68.85   13.11
Registered electors 15,371
Majority 7,923 75.42   2.65
PH hold Swing
Penang state election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes % ∆%
PH Lim Guan Eng 9,362 85.61   1.96
BN Tang Heap Seng 1,404 12.84   3.31
Malaysian United Party Tan Gim Theam 87 0.80   0.80
Love Malaysia Party Manikandan Ramayah 83 0.76   0.76
Total valid votes 10,936 100.00
Total rejected ballots 88
Unreturned ballots 48
Turnout 11,072 81.96   2.58
Registered electors 13,509
Majority 7,958 72.77   5.27
PH hold Swing {{{2}}}
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 Lim Guan Eng 9,626 83.65  11.44
BN Tan Ken Keong 1,882 16.15  11.44
Total valid votes 11,508 100.00
Total rejected ballots 161
Unreturned ballots 28
Turnout 11,669 84.54  9.96
Registered electors 13,803
Majority 7,744 67.50   23.08
DAP hold Swing {{{2}}}
Penang state election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ∆%
DAP Lim Guan Eng 6,601 72.21  28.13
BN Tan Yok Cheng 2,540 27.79  28.13
Total valid votes 9,141 100.00
Total rejected ballots 130
Unreturned ballots 17
Turnout 9,288 74.58  3.45
Registered electors 12,454
Majority 4,061 44.42   32.58
DAP gain from BN Swing ?


Penang state election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes %
BN Lye Siew Weng 4,811 55.92
DAP Tee Yee Cheu 3,793 44.08
Total valid votes 8,604 100.00
Total rejected ballots 161
Unreturned ballots 14
Turnout 8,779 71.13
Registered electors 12,342
Majority 818 11.84
This was a new constituency created.

See also

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References

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