The motion was tabled by chief minister Chow Kon Yeow and approved without objection.

DAP nominee Lingeshwaran, 39, is the director of Sungai Bakap Hospital. He was first appointed as a senator in 2023.

Chow said Lingeshwaran used his first term to raise issues related to public health, the welfare of medical workers, education and Penang’s development.

He said Lingeshwaran also represented Malaysia at international forums, including the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum. At the state level, he was deputy chairman of the Penang Hindu Endowments Board and the Penang Tamil Schools Committee.

PKR nominee Noor Inayah, 57, will replace Amir Ghazali, who also served as the political secretary to former Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Chow said Noor Inayah, from Bukit Tambun, has extensive experience in law, governance and Islamic finance. She studied law at International Islamic University Malaysia, obtained a master’s degree in law from the University of Bristol, and later a PhD in law from the University of Manchester.

Noor Inayah has held senior posts in universities and national institutions, including as president and vice-chancellor of Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur.

She also served as a law professor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and had been involved with Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd, Amanah Raya Bhd and Yayasan Wakaf Malaysia.

At the state level, Noor Inayah was the only woman appointed to the Penang Fatwa Committee and had also served with Yayasan Pendidikan Islam Pulau Pinang and Penang Halal International.