Penang State Executive Council

The Penang State Executive Council is the executive authority of the state government of Penang, a Malaysian state. Led by the Chief Minister, the head of government who is appointed by Penang's head of state, the Governor, the Executive Council also comprises between four and ten other State Assemblymen from the Penang State Legislative Assembly, as well as the State Secretary, the State Legal Adviser and the State Financial Officer.

While being smaller in size, the Penang State Executive Council is analogous in structure and role to the Malaysian federal Cabinet. As federal and state responsibilities differ, there are a number of portfolios that differ between the federal and state governments. The Executive Council is collectively responsible 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.

Current Executive Council members

Following the 2018 State Election, the composition of the Penang State Executive Council is as follows.

Name	Position	Portfolio	Constituency	Party
Chow Kon Yeow	Chief Minister	Land affairs and development	Padang Kota	DAP
		Transportation
		Information
Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman	Deputy Chief Minister I	Industrial development	Pinang Tunggal	PKR
		Islamic affairs
		Community relations
Ramasamy Palanisamy	Deputy Chief Minister II	Economic planning	Perai	DAP
		Education
		Human resources
		Science, technology and innovation
Jagdeep Singh Deo	Executive Councillor	Local government	Datok Keramat	DAP
		Housing
		Urban and rural planning
Zairil Khir Johari	Executive Councillor	Flood mitigation	Tanjong Bunga	DAP
		Public works
		Utilities
Abdul Halim Hussain	Executive Councillor	Domestic and international trade	Batu Maung	PKR
		Consumer affairs
		Entrepreneurial development
Afif Bahardin (until 4 March 2020)	Executive Councillor	Health	Seberang Jaya	PKR
		Agriculture and agro-based industries
Norlela Ariffin (from 12 March 2020)		Rural Development	Penanti	PKR
Phee Boon Poh	Executive Councillor	Welfare	Sungai Puyu	DAP
		Caring society
		Environment
Chong Eng	Executive Councillor	Women and family development	Padang Lalang	DAP
		Gender inclusiveness
		Non-Islamic religious affairs
Yeoh Soon Hin	Executive Councillor	Tourism development and heritage	Paya Terubong	DAP
		Arts and culture
Soon Lip Chee	Executive Councillor	Youth	Bagan Jermal	DAP
		Sports

Ex officio members

The State Secretary, the State Legal Adviser and the State Financial Officer are the ex officio members of the Executive Council.

Name	Position	Note
Farizan Darus	State Secretary
Anas Ahmad Zakie	State Legal Adviser
Sarul Bahiyah Haji Abu	State Financial Officer

See also

• Penang state government
• Governor of Penang
• Chief Minister of Penang
• Penang State Legislative Assembly

External links

• Penang State Government