Chow Kon Yeow (; born 14 November 1958) is a Malaysian politician and journalist who has served as the 5th Chief Minister of Penang since May 2018, Member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Padang Kota since March 2008 and Member of Parliament (MP) for Batu Kawan since November 2022. He served as Member of the Penang State Executive Council (EXCO) in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) state administrations under former Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng from March 2008 to his promotion to Chief Ministership in May 2018, MP for Tanjong from November 1999 to May 2013 and again from May 2018 to November 2022 and the MLA for Pengkalan Kota from October 1990 to April 1995. He is a member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of the PH and formerly PR coalitions. He has also served as the State Chairman of PH of Penang since May 2019 and Member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of DAP since March 2025. He also served as the National Vice Chairman of DAP from September 2004 to March 2025 and the State Chairman of DAP of Penang from 1999 to September 2024. He is presently the only Chinese head of state government among the 13 Malaysian states.
Appointment as National Vice Chairman On 20 March 2022, on the 17th DAP National Congress, Chow was re-elected into the Central Executive Committee with 1641 votes, the 2nd highest vote, after Gobind Singh. He was then re-appointed the Vice National Chairman under Lim Guan Eng.
Personal life Chow was born on 14 November 1958 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He holds a Bachelor in Social Sciences (Hons) degree from University of Science Malaysia (USM). Before entering politics, Chow was a journalist by profession.
Chow married Tan Lean Kee and the couple has two sons.
He tested positive for COVID-19 on 1 November 2022.
Election results + Penang State Legislative Assembly Results only available from the 2004 election. Percentage figures based on total turnout. Percentage figures based on total turnout.YearConstituencyCandidateVotesPctOpponent(s)VotesPctBallots castMajorityTurnout1990N23 Pengkalan Kota (DAP)11,33658.51%Loh Huck Hun (MCA)7,66639.56%19,376 3,670 76.83% 1995 Chow Kon Yeow (DAP)7,52344.27%Lee Hack Teik (MCA)9,03653.18%16,993 1,513 78.79% Khoo Soo Hoe (PBS)1310.77%1999N22 Padang KotaChow Kon Yeow (DAP)5,21131.10% (Gerakan)6,85140.88%16,758 1,64077.01% 2004N26 Padang KotaChow Kon Yeow (DAP)4,58440.13% (Gerakan)6,83859.87%11,6552,25463.66%2008 (DAP)6,44957.14%Teng Chang Yeow (Gerakan)4,78842.42%11,5071,66168.89%2013 (DAP)9,56380.03%Oh Tong Keong (Gerakan)2,36719.81%12,0787,19678.56%2018 (DAP)9,27885.75%H'ng Khoon Leng (Gerakan)1,47013.59%10,9617,80875.72%Goh Saik Wei (MUP)710.66%2023 (DAP)8,26187.83%H'ng Khoon Leng (Gerakan)1,14512.17%9,4067,11662.02%
+ Parliament of MalaysiaYearConstituencyCandidateVotesPctOpponent(s)VotesPctBallots castMajorityTurnout1999P048 (DAP)23,43754.00%Cheang Chee Gooi (Gerakan)18,96043.68%43,403 4,477 70.85%2004P049 (DAP)21,65255.41%Ooi Swee Hing (Gerakan)17,42444.59%39,7934,22868.72%2008 (DAP)28,24874.14%Keow Veon Szu (Gerakan)9,75925.61%38,73418,48972.82%2018 (DAP)34,66387.25%Ng Siew Lai (Gerakan)5,06412.75%39,72729,59980.90%2022P046 Batu KawanChow Kon Yeow (DAP)50,74473.72%Wong Chia Zhen (Gerakan) 10,34415.03%88,81240,40077.50% Tan Lee Huat (MCA)7,14510.38%Ong Chin Wen (WARISAN) 4500.65% Lee Ah Liang (PRM) 1480.22%
Honours Honours of Malaysia
Recipient of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal (2024)
References
External links
Profile on the Parliament website