The Penang State Executive Council is the executive branch of the Penang state government. It is headed by the chief minister, who is appointed by the governor, Penang's head of state. The council also comprises between four and ten other members of the Penang State Legislative Assembly, along with ex officio civil servants namely the state secretary, the state legal adviser and the state financial officer.
While smaller in size, the Penang State Executive Council is similar in structure and function to the Malaysian federal cabinet. Federal and state responsibilities vary, resulting in portfolios that vary between the two levels of government. The Executive Council is collectively accountable to the Penang State Legislative Assembly.
Structure of government
Appointment of the executive The chief minister, as Penang's head of government, must be appointed by the governor of Penang (Malay: Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang) on the basis that the former commands the confidence of a majority of the state assemblymen in the Penang State Legislative Assembly. On the advice of the chief minister, the governor shall form the Penang State Executive Council by appointing "not more than ten nor less than four other members" from among the state assemblymen.
Aside from the Executive Council, the governor shall also appoint another three executive officers, namely the state secretary, the state legal adviser and the state financial officer.
The state secretary serves as the principal officer who handles the administrative affairs of the state. The state legal adviser shall provide advice on legal matters upon request from either the governor or the state government. The state financial officer is in charge of the financial affairs of the state.
These officers retain the right to participate in the proceedings of the Executive Council and may be appointed to any of the committees in the council. However, they are not permitted to vote in the Executive Council or within any of the committees.
Before exercising the duties of the executive office, an incoming member of the Executive Council must take and subscribe the Oath of Office and Allegiance in the presence of the governor. The Oath of Office and Allegiance reads as follows.I, [name], having been appointed to the office of [name of office], do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will faithfully discharge the duties of that office to the best of my ability, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the State of Penang, and that I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the State of Penang.In addition, every incoming member of the Executive Council, plus the state secretary, the state legal adviser and the state financial officer, must also take and subscribe the Oath of Secrecy before the governor. The Oath of Secrecy is as follows.I, [name], do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as a member of the Executive Council of the State of Penang except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as such or may be specially permitted by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
Vacation of office Any member of the Penang State Executive Council, apart from the chief minister, shall hold office at the governor's pleasure, but may at any time resign from his or her position. If the chief minister ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the state assemblymen in the Penang State Legislative Assembly, the chief minister shall tender the resignation of the entire Executive Council. However, in this particular circumstance, the chief minister also reserves the option to advise the governor to dissolve the Legislative Assembly, thus paving the way for fresh state-level election. Aside from that, the Executive Council ceases to exist upon the vacancy of the Office of the chief minister, unless the vacancy arises while the Legislative Assembly is dissolved.
Lists of full members
Chow Kon Yeow II EXCO (2023–present) PH (10) BN (1) DAP (8) PKR (2) UMNO (1) Members since 13 August 2023 have been :
NamePortfolioPartyConstituencyTerm startTerm endChow Kon Yeow MP (Chief Minister) Finance Economic Development Land CommunicationsPH (DAP)Padang Kota13 August 2023IncumbentDr. Mohamad Abdul Hamid (Deputy Chief Minister I) Islamic Development Education Higher Education Cooperative Development (2026–present) Community Unity (2023–2026)PH (PKR)Batu Maung 16 August 2023IncumbentJagdeep Singh Deo (Deputy Chief Minister II) Human Capital Development Science and Technology PH (DAP)Datok Keramat16 August 2023IncumbentWong Hon Wai Tourism Creative Economy Paya Terubong16 August 2023IncumbentZairil Khir Johari Infrastructure Transport Digital Development Tanjong Bunga16 August 2023IncumbentLim Siew Khim Social Development Welfare Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Sungai Pinang16 August 2023IncumbentDaniel Gooi Zi Sen Youth Sports HealthPadang Lalang16 August 2023IncumbentJason H'ng Mooi Lye Local Government Town & Country Planning Jawi16 August 2023IncumbentSundarajoo Somu Housing EnvironmentPerai16 August 2023IncumbentFahmi Zainol Agrotechnology & Food Security Cooperative DevelopmentPH (PKR)Pantai Jerejak16 August 20234 March 2026Goh Choon Aik Trade Community UnityBukit Tambun6 March 2026IncumbentRashidi Zinol Entrepreneurial Development Rural Development Agrotechnology & Food Security (2026–present) Trade and Entrepreneurial Development (2023–2026)BN (UMNO)Sungai Acheh16 August 2023Incumbent
Ex officio members The state secretary, the state legal adviser and the state financial officer are the ex officio members of the Executive Council. NamePositionNoteJafri Abd JalilState SecretaryWan Nor Sakina State Legal AdviserZabidah Safar State Financial Officer
Former membership Chow Kon Yeow I EXCO (2018–2023) PH (11) DAP (8) PKR (3) Members from 14 May 2018 to 13 August 2023 were : NamePortfolioPartyConstituencyTerm start Term endChow Kon Yeow MP (Chief Minister) Land Affairs Land Development Transport (2018–2020) Information (2018–2020) Communications (2020–2023)DAPPadang Kota14 May 201813 August 2023Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman (Deputy Chief Minister I) Islamic Affairs Industry Development Cooperatives (2020–2023) Community Relations (2018–2020) Community Empowerment (2020–2023)PKRPinang Tunggal16 May 201813 August 2023Ramasamy Palanisamy (Deputy Chief Minister II) State Economic Planning Education Human Capital Development (2018–2020) Human Resources (2020–2023) Science, Technology and InnovationDAPPerai16 May 201813 August 2023Jagdeep Singh Deo Local Government Housing Urban and Rural PlanningDatok Keramat16 May 201813 August 2023Zairil Khir Johari Public Works (2018–2020) Utilities (2018–2020) Flood Mitigation (2018–2020) Infrastructure (2020–2023) Transport (2020–2023)Tanjong Bunga16 May 201813 August 2023Abdul Halim Hussain Domestic and International Trade Consumer Affairs Entrepreneurship DevelopmentPKRBatu Maung16 May 201813 August 2023Dr. Afif Bahardin Health Agriculture & Agro-based Industries (2018–2020) Agrotech and Food Security (2020–2023) Rural DevelopmentSeberang Jaya16 May 20184 March 2020Norlela AriffinPenanti12 March 202013 August 2023Phee Boon Poh Welfare EnvironmentDAPSungai Puyu16 May 201813 August 2023Chong Eng Women, Family, Gender Inclusiveness (2018–2020) Community development (2018–2020) Social Development (2020–2023) Non-Islamic Religious Affairs (2020–2023)Padang Lalang16 May 201813 August 2023Yeoh Soon Hin Tourism Development Heritage (2018–2020) Culture & Arts (2018–2020) Creative Economy (2020–2023)Paya Terubong16 May 201813 August 2023Soon Lip Chee Youth SportsBagan Jermal16 May 201813 August 2023
Lim Guan Eng II EXCO (2013–2018) DAP (8) PKR (3)
Members from 2013 to 2018 were :
NamePortfolioPartyConstituencyTerm start Term endLim Guan Eng (Chief Minister) Land Affairs and Land Development Information Heritage & Non-Islamic Religious AffairsDAPAir Putih9 May 20132018Mohd Rashid Hasnon (Deputy Chief Minister I) Industrial Development International Trade Cooperatives and Community Relations Entrepreneur DevelopmentPKRPantai Jerejak9 May 20132018Ramasamy Palanisamy (Deputy Chief Minister II) State Economic Planning Education Human Resources Science, Technology and InnovationDAPPerai9 May 20132018Chow Kon Yeow Local Government Traffic Management Flood MitigationDAPPadang Kota9 May 20132018Lim Hock Seng Public Works Utilities (Energy, Water and Telecom) Transport (Air, Sea and Train)DAPBagan Jermal9 May 20132018Law Heng Kiang Tourism Development CultureDAPBatu Lancang9 May 20132018Phee Boon Poh Welfare Caring Society EnvironmentDAPSungai Puyu9 May 20132018Jagdeep Singh Deo Town Rural Planning HousingDAPDatok Keramat9 May 20132018Chong Eng Youth and Sports Women, Family Community Development ArtsDAPPadang Lalang9 May 20132018Abdul Malik Abul Kassim Religious Affairs Domestic Trade Consumer AffairsPKRBatu Maung9 May 20132018Dr. Afif Bahardin Agriculture & Agro-Based Industry Rural Development HealthPKRSeberang Jaya9 May 20132018
Lim Guan Eng I EXCO (2008–2013) DAP (8) PKR (3)
Members from 2008 to 2013 were :
NamePortfolioPartyConstituencyTerm start Term endLim Guan Eng (Chief Minister) Industrial Development International Trade Land Affairs Land DevelopmentDAPAir Putih13 March 20088 May 2013Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin (Deputy Chief Minister I) Religious Affairs Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Information Community RelationsPKRPenanti13 March 20082009Mansor Othman (Deputy Chief Minister I)PKRPenanti20098 May 2013Ramasamy Palanisamy (Deputy Chief Minister II) State Economic Planning Education Human Resources Science, Technology and Innovation.DAPPerai13 March 20088 May 2013Chow Kon Yeow Local Government Traffic Management EnvironmentDAPPadang Kota13 March 20088 May 2013Lim Hock Seng Public Works Utilities (Energy, Water and Telecom) Transport (Air, Sea and Train)DAPBagan Jermal13 March 20088 May 2013Law Heng Kiang Tourism Development Culture Arts HeritageDAPBatu Lancang13 March 20088 May 2013Phee Boon Poh Health Welfare Caring SocietyDAPSungai Puyu13 March 20088 May 2013Wong Hon Wai Housing Urban Rural PlanningDAPAir Itam13 March 2008 8 May 2013Ong Kok Fooi Youth and Sports Women, Family and Community DevelopmentDAPBerapit13 March 20088 May 2013Abdul Malik Abul Kassim Domestic Trade Consumer AffairsPKRBatu Maung13 March 20088 May 2013Law Choo Kiang Agriculture Agro-based Industries Rural Development Flood MitigationPKRBukit Tambun13 March 2008 8 May 2013
Koh Tsu Koon IV EXCO (2004–2008) BN (11) Gerakan (4) UMNO (4) MCA (2) MIC (1)
Members from 2004 to 2008 were :Penang exco line-up: Then and now
NamePortfolioPartyConstituencyTerm start Term endKoh Tsu Koon (Chief Minister) Industrial Development International Trade Town and Country PlanningGerakanTanjong Bunga20042008Abdul Rashid Abdullah (Deputy Chief Minister) Religious Affairs Land Affairs and Land Development Entrepreneurial Development and CooperativesUMNOSungai Bakap20042008Teng Hock Nan Local Government Traffic Management Information Community RelationsGerakanPulau Tikus20042008Toh Kin Woon State Economic Planning Education Human Resources Science, Technology and InnovationGerakanMachang Bubok20042008Teng Chang Yeow Tourism Development EnvironmentGerakanPadang Kota20042008Azhar Ibrahim Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Rural Development Flood MitigationUMNOPenaga20042008Jahara Hamid Youth and Sports Women, Family and Community DevelopmentUMNOTelok Ayer Tawar20042008Syed Amerruddin Syed Ahmad Housing Culture, Arts and HeritageUMNOBayan Lepas20042008Koay Kar Huah Public Works Utilities (Energy, Water, Telecom) Transportation (Air, Sea and Rail)MCASeri Delima20042008Lau Chiek Tuan Domestic Trade