Penang State Executive Council
2023–present
Date formed	13 August 2023
People and organisations
Head of state	Ramli Ngah Talib
Head of government	Chow Kon Yeow (PH–DAP)
Totalno. of members	11
Member parties	Pakatan Harapan (PH) andBarisan Nasional (BN) coalition government Pakatan Harapan (PH) Democratic Action Party (DAP) People's Justice Party (PKR) Barisan Nasional (BN) United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Status in legislature	Coalition government 29 / 40
Opposition parties	Perikatan Nasional (PN) Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU)
Opposition leader	Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff (PN–PAS)
History
Legislature term	15th Penang State Legislative Assembly

ThePenang State Executive Council is theexecutive branch of thePenang state government. It is headed by thechief minister, who is appointed by thegovernor, Penang'shead of state. The council also comprises between four and ten other members of thePenang State Legislative Assembly, along withex officiocivil servants – namely the state secretary, the state legal adviser and the state financial officer.^[1]

While smaller in size, the Penang State Executive Council is similar in structure and function to theMalaysian 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.^[1]

Thechief minister, asPenang's head of government, must be appointed by thegovernor 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 thePenang State Legislative Assembly.^[1] 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 thestate 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.^[1]

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 theState of Penang, and that I will preserve, protect and defend theConstitution of the State of Penang.^[1]

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.^[1]

Any member of the Penang State Executive Council, apart from thechief minister, shall hold office at thegovernor's pleasure, but may at any time resign from his or her position.^[1] If the chief minister ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the state assemblymen in thePenang 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 freshstate-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.

Members since 13 August 2023 have been :^[2][3]

The state secretary, the state legal adviser and the state financial officer are theex officio members of the Executive Council.

Members from 14 May 2018 to 13 August 2023 were :^{[7][8][9][10]}

 DAP (8) PKR (3)

Members from 2013 to 2018 were :^[11]

 DAP (8) PKR (3)

Members from 2008 to 2013 were :^[12]

Members from 2004 to 2008 were :^[13]

Members from 1999 to 2004 were :^[14][15]

Members from 1995 to 1999 were :^[16][17][18]

Members from 1990 to 1995 were :^[19]

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

• Penang State Government

• Politics of Penang
• State executive councils in Malaysia

• CS1 Malay-language sources (ms)
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata