Although I am happy that there is finally a city council in the state of Penang, there are several issues that have been bothering me for some times.

1. The newest city in Malaysia is known as Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (Penang City) and not as Bandaraya George Town (George Town City). It is therefore a lie to say that George Town’s city status has been restored on Jan 1, 2015.

2. George Town was the only city in Malaya and the first city in Malaysia. Besides, it has been listed as one of the Unesco’s world heritage sites. Yet, today George Town is the only state capital in Malaysia that does not have a council under its own name.

3. George Town lost its name and city status after the City Council of George Town was merged with the Rural District Council (Balik Pulau). Since then, there is no George Town General Hospital, no George Town General Post Office and no High Court in Malaya at George Town. Everything is just Penang!

4. Even the Penang chief minister’s official address, as stated in his letterhead, is 28th Floor, Komtar, 10503 Penang. Why is ‘George Town’ not included in the address? Is Komtar not situated in George Town?

5. If you register a business with Companies Commission of Malaysia in Kedah, your business registration code starts with AS (Alor Setar). In Selangor, the code starts with SA (Shah Alam) but in Penang, the code starts with PG (Penang) and not GT (George Town)!

6. I think there has been a systematic plan to wipe out the name of George Town from Penang, and the state government is not doing anything about it.

7. I urge the state government of Penang and if necessary, the George Town-based Members of Parliaments (Tanjong, Jelutong, Bukit Bendera and Bukit Gelugor) to do all things necessary to restore George Town’s status as the capital city of Penang.

SHAMSER SINGH THIND is a law lecturer.