Barely a week into her new job, the Penang Island City Council's first woman mayor Patahiyah Ismail has ruffled the feathers of some members of the media.

The Chinese language media accused her of "ignoring the press, remaining silent and avoiding" queries on a public objection – a 1,000 signature petition – to a high density project in Tanjung Bungah, in the northern corridor of the island.