Penang Island City Council (MBPP) secretary Yew Tung Seang has been appointed as the new mayor, with effect from Jan 20.

State exco Chow Kon Yeow said today that the decision was made by Penang's executive council.

"The swearing-in ceremony for Yew to take up the post will be held on Monday, Jan 22," Chow said.

Yew, an architect by training, served the council as building director for a decade prior to becoming its secretary in 2016.

He replaces Maimunah Mohd Sharif, who held the mayoral post for six months following the retirement of Patahiyah Ismail.

Maimunah has left the council to take over as executive director of the United Nations' Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

She is the first Malaysian woman to take the position and will assume office in Nairobi, Kenya, on Jan 20.

At a press conference in Komtar today, Yew said he accepted the appointment with "gratefulness and humility."

"I am aware that the trust, task and responsibility given to me are not simple," he said.

"But I am confident, and I believe in the support and commitment from Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng; Chow, who has become my immediate boss; all the state excos; state secretary Farizan Darus and the MBPP staff.

"I believe they will assist me to lead the city council to achieve its vision of a cleaner, greener, safer and healthier Penang," Yew added.

Yew also thanked Maimunah for her contributions to the city council, saying the staff under her leadership had learnt about many issues, especially sustainable development goals for Penang.

Meanwhile, Chow also announced MBPP's engineering director Addnan Mohd Razali, who started his career in the council as an architectural contractor, as its secretary

Addnan will take over Yew's old post effective Jan 20.

"The two officers have vast experience and have excellent performance in the local council, based on these criteria, they were considered and appointed to their new posts," said Chow, adding that both appointments were made in accordance to the Local Government Act 1976.