Among the new councillors at the MBSA swearing-in ceremony are (from left) Ramu, Suryamuizzudin, Hamdan, Nur Yusmi and Murugiah. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
FREELANCE accountant Nur Yusmi Md Yusop is keen to utilise her background and work experience in accounting, internal auditing and women’s empowerment in her new role as a councillor with Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).
“I have an accounting degree. My last full-time job before focusing on politics was in internal auditing,” said the 51-year-old mother of two boys.
“I also recently served three years as Pusat Wanita Berdaya (PWB) coordinator in two state constituencies in Shah Alam.
“I am keen to be part of MBSA’s audit and corporate management committee where I hope to contribute in areas such as finance and management,” she said.
Nur Yusmi wants to use her experience at PWB to collaborate with MBSA on empowerment programmes which teach capacity building, entrepreneurship, financial management and other skills to women to help them be independent.
She also hopes to make Shah Alam a safe city and one that is women-friendly.
The Shah Alam Wanita PKR chief was the only woman among six newly appointed MBSA councillors who will serve the 2023 term.
Other new faces are Tengku Ahmad Tengku Kasim, 61, Murugiah Munusamy, 47, Hamdan Harun, 44, and Suryamuizzudin Kamarudin, 35, all from PKR, while Ramu Nadarajan, 45, is from DAP.
Murugiah and Ramu are both locals who have fond memories of growing up in Shah Alam when it was known as Sungai Renggam.
Nor Fuad says seven out of 23 city councillors are women.
They now reside in Section 20 and Section 16 respectively.
Murugiah said, “I have about 15 years of experience serving the Indian community in both appointed and voluntary roles in the Batu Tiga constituency.
“I was handling matters pertaining to the welfare of the community, including education and religious issues.”
The Shah Alam PKR vice-president said there was a need for sustainable development in the city to strike a balance between progress and preserving nature.
Ramu said his 20-plus years of community work would come in handy in his new role as MBSA councillor.
“I am aware that teamwork, communication and unity are essential when promoting MBSA’s programmes to the community.
“My six-year stint in the Territorial Army has also ingrained self-discipline in me, which will shape how I handle this new role,” said Ramu, who runs his own commercial printing business.
A total of 23 councillors were sworn in at a ceremony held at Wisma MBSA, Shah Alam.
The candidate to fill the last spot will be identified by the state government at a later date.
The councillors, including 17 who were reappointed, took their oaths and signed their letters of undertaking before Shah Alam mayor Dr Nor Fuad Abdul Hamid.
Seven of the 23 councillors are women, meeting the Selangor government’s target of having 30% female councillors.
Nor Fuad said,“There is a good composition in terms of age groups.We have councillors in their 30s up to their 60s.
“I hope they will all fulfil their duties responsibly, and contribute towards empowering MBSA’s delivery system to ratepayers.”
