Government of Penang

The Penang state government refers to the government authority of the Malaysian state of Penang. The state government adheres to and is created by both the Malaysian federal Constitution, 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.

Penang State Government
Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang
Agency overview
Formed31 August 1957 (1957-08-31)
Jurisdiction Penang
Headquarters George Town
Annual budgetRM 1.25 billion (2018)[1]
Minister responsible
Deputy Ministers responsible
Agency executives
  • Farizan Darus, State Secretary
  • Anas Ahmad Zakie, State Legal Adviser
  • Sarul Bahiyah Haji Abu, State Financial Officer
Parent agencyGovernment of Malaysia
Websitepenang.gov.my/en

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
Main article: List of Chief Ministers of Penang

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 Komtar Tower houses the Office of the Chief Minister of Penang, as well as other state government offices.

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
Main article: Penang State Executive Council

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
Jagdeep Singh Deo 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 State Assembly Building
Main article: Penang State Legislative Assembly
Composition of the Penang State Legislative Assembly after the 2018 State Election.
  Pakatan Harapan (PH) seats
  United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) seats
  Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) seats

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 Treasury Department[9]
  • Penang State Mufti Department[10]
  • Penang Syariah Judiciary Department[11]
  • Office of Lands and Mines Penang[12]
  • Penang Urban and Rural Planning Department[13]
  • Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department[14]
  • Penang Irrigation and Drainage Department[15]
  • Penang Public Works Department[16]
  • Penang Social Welfare Department[17]
  • Penang State Agriculture Department[18]
  • Penang Veterinary Services Department[19]
  • Penang State Forestry Department[20]
  • Penang Botanic Gardens Department[21]
  • Penang State Sports Council[22]

Agencies
  • Penang Development Corporation[23]
  • Penang Public Library Corporation[24]
  • Penang State Museum Board[25]
  • Penang State Islamic Religious Council[26]

Statutory bodies
  • George Town World Heritage Incorporated[27]
  • investPenang[28]
  • Penang Career Assistance & Talent Centre[29]
  • Penang Global Tourism[30]
  • Penang Green Council[31]
  • Penang Hindu Endowment Board[32]
  • Penang Institute of Integrity[33]
  • Penang International Halal Hub[34]
  • Penang Hill Corporation[35]

See also

References
  1. Chong, Kah Yuan (2 November 2017). "Penang tables RM1.3bil budget". The Star. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  2. Jeong Chun Hai @ Ibrahim, & Nor Fadzlina Nawi. (2012). Principles of Public Administration: Malaysian Perspectives. Kuala Lumpur: Pearson Publishers. ISBN 978-967-349-233-6
  3. "Constitution of Malaysia" (PDF).
  4. "Constitution of the State of Penang" (PDF). Penang State Legislative Assembly.
  5. "Chow Kon Yeow sworn in as Penang CM". Free Malaysia Today. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  6. Brash, Celeste (2008). Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Penang. Lonely Planet. ISBN 978-1-74104-485-0.
  7. "Two DCMs for Penang". The Star. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  8. "Civil engineer Zaki made Penang deputy CM 1". Free Malaysia Today. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  9. "Penang State Treasury Department". Penang State Government. Archived from the original on 3 June 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  10. Subhee. "Laman Web Rasmi Jabatan Mufti - Home". mufti.penang.gov.my. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  11. "Utama |". jksnpp.gov.my (in Malay). Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  12. "Portal Rasmi Pejabat Pengarah Tanah dan Galian Pulau Pinang - Latest News". ptg.penang.gov.my. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  13. "Jabatan Perancangan Bandar dan Desa Negeri Pulau Pinang". jpbd.penang.gov.my. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  14. "Jabatan Agama Islam Negeri Pulau Pinang". jaipp.penang.gov.my (in Malay). Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  15. "Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran Pulau Pinang". jps.penang.gov.my. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  16. "...:::Jabatan Kerja Raya Pulau Pinang:::..." ppinang.jkr.gov.my (in Malay). Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  17. "Home". jkm.penang.gov.my. Archived from the original on 27 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  18. "Home". jpn.penang.gov.my. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  19. "Penang Veterinary Services Department". Penang State Government.
  20. Mohamad, Mohd Ashrul bin. "Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Pulau Pinang - HOME". jhn.penang.gov.my. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  21. "Penang Botanic Gardens Department". Penang State Government.
  22. "Laman Web Rasmi Majlis Sukan Negeri Pulau Pinang - LAMAN UTAMA". msnpp.penang.gov.my (in Malay). Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  23. "PDC Official Website". pdc.gov.my. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  24. "Penang Public Library Corporation". Penang State Government.
  25. "Penang State Museum Board". Penang State Government.
  26. "Laman Web Rasmi Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Pulau Pinang". mainpp.gov.my (in Malay). Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  27. "Home". gtwhi.com.my. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  28. "Invest Penang". investpenang.gov.my. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  29. "Penang Career Assistance & Talent Centre". Penang State Government.
  30. "Penang Global Tourism". Penang State Government.
  31. "Penang Green Council". Penang State Government.
  32. "Penang Hindu Endowment Board". Penang State Government. Archived from the original on 5 November 2017.
  33. "Penang Institute of Integrity". Penang State Government.
  34. Idris, Imran. "Halal Penang - Home". halalpenang.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  35. User, Super. "Home". penanghill.gov.my. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
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