The Government of Penang (Malay: Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang) refers to the government authority of the Malaysian state of Penang. The state government adheres to and is created by both the Constitution of Malaysia, the supreme law of Malaysia, and the Constitution of the State of Penang, the supreme law in Penang. The government of Penang is based in the state's capital city of George Town.
| Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 31 August 1957 |
| Jurisdiction |  Penang |
| Headquarters | George Town |
| Annual budget | RM 1.047 billion (2024)[1] |
| Minister responsible | |
| Deputy Ministers responsible |
|
| Agency executives |
|
| Parent agency | Government of Malaysia |
| Website | www |
The state government consists of only two branches - executive and legislative. The Penang State Executive Council forms the executive branch, whilst the Penang State Legislative Assembly is the legislature of the state government. Penang's head of government is the chief minister. The state government does not have a judiciary branch, as Malaysia's judicial system is a federalised system operating uniformly throughout the country.[2][3]
Executive
Head of government
The Chief Minister is the head of government in Penang. He is officially appointed by the Governor, Penang's head of state, on the basis of the latter's judgement that the former commands the confidence of the majority of the State Assemblymen in the Penang State Legislative Assembly.[4] The Chief Minister and his Executive Council shall be collectively responsible to Legislative Assembly. The Office of the Chief Minister is situated inside Komtar in George Town.
The current Chief Minister of Penang is Chow Kon Yeow of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), which controls the most seats in the State Legislative Assembly among the Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties. Chow was sworn in on 14 May 2018, after the 2018 State Election that saw the PH coalition retaining power in Penang.[5] To this day, Penang remains the only Malaysian state where the position of the head of government has been continuously held by an ethnic Chinese since the nation's independence in 1957.[6]
Notably, Penang is also the only Malaysian state which appoints two Deputy Chief Ministers - one representing the Malay community and the other an ethnic Indian.[7] This serves to shape a top leadership consisting of various backgrounds, representing the diverse ethnicities of the state.
Cabinet
The Penang State Executive Council forms the executive branch of the Penang state government and is analogous in function to the Malaysian federal Cabinet. The Executive Council comprises the Chief Minister, and between four and 10 other State Assemblymen from the Penang State Legislative Assembly.[4] Aside from these, three other ex officio members of the Executive Council are the State Secretary, the State Legal Adviser and the State Financial Officer.
Following the 2018 State Election, the members of the Executive Council are as follows.[8]
| Name | Position | Portfolio |
|---|---|---|
| Chow Kon Yeow | Chief Minister | Land affairs and development |
| Transportation | ||
| Information | ||
| Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman | Deputy Chief Minister I | Industrial development |
| Islamic affairs | ||
| Community relations | ||
| Ramasamy Palanisamy | Deputy Chief Minister II | Economic planning |
| Education | ||
| Human resources | ||
| Science, technology and innovation | ||
| H'ng Mooi Lye | Executive Councillor | Local government |
| Housing | ||
| Urban and rural planning | ||
| Zairil Khir Johari | Executive Councillor | Flood mitigation |
| Public works | ||
| Utilities | ||
| Abdul Halim Hussain | Executive Councillor | Domestic and international trade |
| Consumer affairs | ||
| Entrepreneurial development | ||
| Norlela Ariffin | Executive Councillor | Health |
| Agriculture and agro-based industries | ||
| Rural development | ||
| Phee Boon Poh | Executive Councillor | Welfare |
| Caring society | ||
| Environment | ||
| Chong Eng | Executive Councillor | Women and family development |
| Gender inclusiveness | ||
| Non-Islamic religious affairs | ||
| Yeoh Soon Hin | Executive Councillor | Tourism development and heritage |
| Arts and culture | ||
| Soon Lip Chee | Executive Councillor | Youth |
| Sports |
Legislature
The Penang State Legislative Assembly is the legislative branch of the Penang state government. The unicameral legislature consists of 40 seats that represent the 40 state constituencies within Penang, with each constituency being represented by an elected State Assemblyman. The Legislative Assembly convenes at the Penang State Assembly Building in George Town.
The legislature has a maximum mandate of five years by law and follows a multi-party system; the ruling party (or coalition) is elected through a first-past-the-post system.[4] The Governor may dissolve the legislature at any time and usually does so upon the advice of the Chief Minister.
A Speaker is elected by the Legislative Assembly to preside over the proceedings and debates of the legislature. The Speaker may or may not be an elected State Assemblyman; in the case of the latter, the elected Speaker shall become a member of the Legislative Assembly additional to the elected State Assemblymen already in the legislature.[4]
Departments, agencies and statutory bodies
Departments
- Penang State Government Secretariat Office[9]
- Penang State Treasury Department[10]
- Penang State Mufti Department[11]
- Penang Syariah Judiciary Department[12]
- Office of Lands and Mines Penang[13]
- Penang Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia Pulau Pinang) [14]
- Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department[15]
- Penang Irrigation and Drainage Department[16]
- Penang Public Works Department[17]
- Penang Social Welfare Department[18]
- Penang State Agriculture Department[19]
- Penang Veterinary Services Department[20]
- Penang State Forestry Department[21]
- Penang Botanic Gardens Department[22]
Agencies
- Penang Development Corporation[23]
- Penang Public Library Corporation[24]
- Penang State Museum Board[25]
- Penang State Islamic Religious Council[26]
- Penang Hill Corporation[27]
Statutory bodies
See also
- Chief Minister of Penang
- Local governments in Penang
- Elections in Penang