DUN Penang | Penang DAP secretary Lim Hui Ying and former PKR Balik Pulau MP (2008-2013) Yusmadi Yusoff have been appointed senators for the Dewan Negara.

They replace Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail (PKR) and Ariffin SM Omar (DAP) whose appointments ended on June 1.

Hui Yin, 55, holds a bachelors degree in economics from Universiti Malaya. She joined DAP in 1999.

She has held various state DAP posts such as vice-chairperson, assistant secretary, among others.

"Due to the trust placed in her by the party, she was appointed the 2013 and 2018 general election campaign manager for the DAP, and led the party to win all the seats it contested (19 out of 40) in Penang in both polls," Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.

Hui Ying is the daughter of DAP senior leader Lim Kit Siang and sister to Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Yusmadi, a seasoned lawyer, was born in Balik Pulau and now resides in Kuala Lumpur.

He currently serves as PKR president Anwar Ibrahim’s political aide.

Yusmadi studied Islamic and Common Law in the International Islamic University of Malaysia and later furthered his studies in human rights law in Washington College of Law in the United States.

Yusmadi, 42, was called to the Bar in 1999 and has fought for high-profile cases and served at the International Legal Foundation.

He also chairs the Rights Foundation, a welfare and human rights organisation, and has attended many international forums including Doha Forum (Qatar), World Forum for Democracy (Strasbourg), Forum 2000 (Prague) and Tamil Eelam Human Rights Protection Conference (Chennai).

"I believe the two candidates can bring the voices of Penangites to a higher level," said Chow.

The motion to appoint the senators, which was passed at the Penang legislative assembly, was tabled by Chow while Dr Afif Bahardin (PKR-Seberang Jaya) moved to support it.