# 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.
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, 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.
| State constituency | Polling districts | Code | Location |
| Air Itam (N33) | Ayer Itam | 051/33/01 | SJK (C) Kong Min Cawangan Satu |
| Air Itam (N33) | Happy Valley | 051/33/02 | SJK (C) Chiao Nan |
| Air Itam (N33) | Jalan Kampong Pisang | 051/33/03 | SK Sri Aman |
| Air Itam (N33) | Kampong Melayu | 051/33/04 | SK Ayer Itam |
| Air Itam (N33) | Jalan Chor Sin Kheng | 051/33/05 | SM Chung Ling (Persendirian) |
| Air Itam (N33) | Thean Teik | 051/33/06 | SJK (C) Sin Kang |
| Air Itam (N33) | Zoo Road | 051/33/07 | SMJK Chung Ling |
| Air Itam (N33) | Jalan Shaik Madar | 051/33/08 | SMJK Chung Ling |
| Air Itam (N33) | 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. 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
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 ||

## 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 | Chor Sin Kheng | Alliance (MCA) |
| 2nd | 1965 – 1969 | Lim Kean Siew | Socialist Front (Lab) |
| | 1969 - 1971 | Assembly dissolved | 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 | Lye Siew Weng | BN (MCA) |
| 11th | 2004 – 2008 | Cheang Chee Gooi | BN (Gerakan) |
| 12th | 2008 – 2013 | Wong Hon Wai | PR (DAP) |
| 13th | 2013 – 2018 | Wong Hon Wai | PR (DAP) |
| 14th | 2018 – 2023 | Joseph Ng Soon Siang | PH (DAP) |
| 15th | 2023–present | Joseph Ng Soon Siang | PH (DAP) |

## Election results

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