Six councillors - including embattled PAS leader Iszuree Ibrahim - have been dropped from the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP), the state government announced today.

Another six have also been dropped from the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP).

State executive councillor on local government Chow Kon Yeow said that new blood can be injected into the council to replace those who were dropped.

When asked about Iszuree's being axed from his post, Chow ( right ) noted that "his name was not recommended by PAS”.

Iszuree courted controversy when he allegedly criticised the current DAP administration over the state's development, wherein several Malay villages were facing eviction.

He raised the issue at PAS' 60th muktamar in Batu Pahat in September.

He was then dropped from the MPPP subcommittees and his budget allocation was frozen.

However, the MPPP had retained him as a councillor until now.

It is noted that Iszuree is seeking judicial review over his case.

More women wanted in council posts

There were also three reappointments for Felix Ooi, Zaini Awang and Amir Md Ghazali from PKR, who are division chiefs of Bukit Bendera, Kepala Batas and Permatang Pauh, respectively.

Asked were there reappointments if the councils wanted new blood, Chow replied that "the names were recommended by the party".

Chow said the quota for NGOs remained unchanged at four posts, adding that the councils have encouraged more women to join in.

He urged the political parties and NGOs to recommend qualified individuals for the posts.

Currently, there are 24 councillors each for MPPP and MPSP.

For MPPP, 10 are from DAP, eight (PKR), two (PAS) and NGOs, four.

Meanwhile for MPSP, 10 are from DAP, nine (PKR), two (PAS) and NGOs, three.