DATUK Rajendran Anthony has been officially sworn in as the fourth mayor of Penang Island City Council (MBPP) today.
He replaced Datuk Yew Tung Seang, 60, who retired on May 5 this year.
He took the oath before Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, State Secretary Datuk Mohd Sayuthi Bakar and other state representatives and MBPP councillors at City Hall today.
Rajendran, 60, has served the council for 37 years and was previously head of the MBPP Engineering Department before becoming the MBPP secretary since Jan 1, 2022.
He joined the council in 1987 as an assistant engineer and was then seconded to the state government as the traffic management head from 2002 to 2005, before being made general manager of Syarikat Bas Negeri Pulau Pinang from 2006 to 2007.
Rajendran’s career highlights include the implementation of one-way streets in George Town and traffic improvement schemes on Penang’s busiest thoroughfare, Jalan Masjid Negeri – which is popularly known as Green Lane – and its surrounding roads.
Rajendran, in his maiden speech as mayor, said it is a great honour to lead the council as mayor and thanked the state government for the trust given.
“My appointment proves that under this state government, the opportunity is vastly open to those who are committed to their work.
“I am proud to helm an excellent city council that had conducted various programmes for the people and had received many accolades in the country and overseas.
“Among my main focus as the new mayor will be to improve the general well-being of the people of Penang, especially in terms of the cleanliness, public transport system, climate change resilience, digital transformation project and age-friendly city initiatives.
“Under my administration also, MBPP will continue to support the state government’s Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation.’
“The Penang2030 vision also will continue to be used as a guideline to determine the direction of MBPP.
“After all, I want the Penang island to be a progressive, resilient and happy city in line with the state vision,” he said.
Chow, in his speech, congratulated Rajendran on his appointment, adding that he believed Rajendran could do an excellent job as mayor and bring MBPP to greater heights.
“I hope the excellence can be continued under the administration of the new mayor.
“The style of administration might be different but the goal will still be the same which is to improve and preserve the quality of life of residents on the island in line with the state government’s Penang2030 vision,” he said.
Chow also hoped that the mayor would give his best to ensure that the implementation of various projects on the island would be carried out promptly.
“I also wish to see that actions are taken on complaints lodged with the city council, without any delay.
“There is a need to take care of the image of the city, because if the city is dirty, then the image of MBPP and Penang will also be affected,” he said.
Chow also urged all the city councillors to work together with Rajendran to carry out the council’s plans.
“I hope this new pairing will enhance their work and their service delivery,” he said.
At the end of his speech, Chow also thanked Yew for everything he had done during his tenure as MBPP mayor.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar
Video by Siew Chia En