Chow Kon Yeow

曹观友5th Chief Minister of PenangAssumed office
14 May 2018GovernorAbdul Rahman Abbas
(2018–2021)
Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak
(since 2021)DeputyAhmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman
(2018–2023)
Ramasamy Palanisamy
(2018–2023)
Mohamad Abdul Hamid
(since 2023)
Jagdeep Singh Deo
(since 2023)Preceded byLim Guan EngConstituencyPadang KotaMember of the
Penang State Executive Council
(Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment :
13 March 2008–8 May 2013)
(Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation :
9 May 2013–14 May 2018)In office
13 March 2008 – 15 May 2018GovernorAbdul Rahman AbbasChief MinisterLim Guan EngPreceded byTeng Hock Nan
(Local Government and Traffic Management)
Teng Chang Yeow
(Environment)Succeeded byJagdeep Singh Deo
(Local Government and Traffic Management)
Zairil Khir Johari
(Flood Mitigation)ConstituencyPadang KotaState Chairman of the Pakatan Harapan of PenangAssumed office
21 May 2019PresidentWan Azizah Wan IsmailNational ChairmanMahathir Mohamad
(2019–2020)
Anwar Ibrahim
(since 2020)Preceded byLim Guan EngNational Vice Chairman of the
Democratic Action PartyAssumed office
4 September 2004National ChairmanKarpal Singh
(2004–2014)
Tan Kok Wai
(2014–2022)
Lim Guan Eng
(since 2022)Secretary-GeneralLim Guan Eng
(2004–2022)
Anthony Loke
(since 2022)Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Batu KawanAssumed office
19 November 2022Preceded byKasthuriraani Patto
(PH–DAP)Majority40,400 (2022)Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for TanjongIn office
9 May 2018 – 19 November 2022Preceded byNg Wei Aik
(PR–DAP)Succeeded byLim Hui Ying
(PH–DAP)Majority29,599 (2018)In office
29 November 1999 – 5 May 2013Preceded byLim Kit Siang (DAP)Succeeded byNg Wei Aik
(PR–DAP)Majority4,477 (1999)
4,228 (2004)
18,489 (2008)Member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly
for Padang KotaAssumed office
8 March 2008Preceded byTeng Chang Yeow
(BN–GERAKAN)Majority1,661 (2008)
7,196 (2013)
7,808 (2018)
7,116 (2023)Member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly
for Pengkalan KotaIn office
21 October 1990 – 24 April 1995Preceded byTeoh Teik Huat (DAP)Succeeded byLee Hack Teik
(BN–MCA)Majority3,670 (1990) Personal detailsBorn
(1958-11-14) 14 November 1958 (age 65)
Kuala Lumpur, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)CitizenshipMalaysianPolitical partyDemocratic Action Party (DAP)Other political
affiliationsGagasan Rakyat (GR)
(1990–1996)
Barisan Alternatif (BA)
(1999–2004)
Pakatan Rakyat (PR)
(2008–2015)
Pakatan Harapan (PH)
(since 2015)SpouseTan Lean KeeChildren2Alma materUniversity of Science Malaysia
Tunku Abdul Rahman University College
SMK CochraneSignature

Chow Kon Yeow (simplified Chinese: 曹观友; traditional Chinese: 曹觀友; pinyin: Cáo Guānyǒu; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chô Kuan-iú; born 14 November 1958) is a Malaysian politician, lawyer 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 and DAP of Penang since May 2019 as well as the National Vice Chairman of DAP since September 2004. He is presently the only non-Muslim and Chinese head of state government among the 13 Malaysian states.^[1]

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.^[2] He was then re-appointed as the Vice National Chairman under Lim Guan Eng.^[3]

Personal life

Chow was born on 14 November 1957 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.^[4][5]

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^{[6][7][8][9][10]}

Year	Constituency	Candidate		Votes	Pct	Opponent(s)		Votes	Pct	Ballots cast	Majority	Turnout
1990	N23 Pengkalan Kota		Chow Kon Yeow (DAP)	11,336	58.51%		Loh Huck Hun (MCA)	7,666	39.56%	19,376	3,670	76.83%
1995			Chow Kon Yeow (DAP)	7,523	44.27%		Lee Hack Teik (MCA)	9,036	53.18%	16,993	1,513	78.79%
							Khoo Soo Hoe (PBS)	131	0.77%
1999	N22 Padang Kota		Chow Kon Yeow (DAP)	5,211	31.10%		Teng Chang Yeow (GERAKAN)	6,851	40.88%	16,758	1,640	77.01%
2004	N26 Padang Kota		Chow Kon Yeow (DAP)	4,584	40.13%		Teng Chang Yeow (GERAKAN)	6,838	59.87%	11,655	2,254	63.66%
2008			Chow Kon Yeow (DAP)	6,449	57.14%		Teng Chang Yeow (GERAKAN)	4,788	42.42%	11,507	1,661	68.89%
2013			Chow Kon Yeow (DAP)	9,563	80.03%		Oh Tong Keong (GERAKAN)	2,367	19.81%	12,078	7,196	78.56%
2018			Chow Kon Yeow (DAP)	9,278	85.75%		H'ng Khoon Leng (GERAKAN)	1,470	13.59%	10,961	7,808	75.72%
							Goh Saik Wei (MUP)	71	0.66%
2023			Chow Kon Yeow (DAP)	8,261	87.83%		H'ng Khoon Leng (GERAKAN)	1,145	12.17%	9,406	7,116	62.02%

Parliament of Malaysia^{[6][7][9][10]}

Year	Constituency	Candidate		Votes	Pct	Opponent(s)		Votes	Pct	Ballots cast	Majority	Turnout
1999	P048 Tanjong		Chow Kon Yeow (DAP)	23,437	54.00%		Cheang Chee Gooi (GERAKAN)	18,960	43.68%	43,403	4,477	70.85%
2004	P049 Tanjong		Chow Kon Yeow (DAP)	21,652	55.41%		Ooi Swee Hing (GERAKAN)	17,424	44.59%	39,793	4,228	68.72%
2008			Chow Kon Yeow (DAP)	28,248	74.14%		Keow Veon Szu (GERAKAN)	9,759	25.61%	38,734	18,489	72.82%
2018			Chow Kon Yeow (DAP)	34,663	87.25%		Ng Siew Lai (GERAKAN)	5,064	12.75%	39,727	29,599	80.90%
2022	P046 Batu Kawan		Chow Kon Yeow (DAP)	50,744	73.72%		Wong Chia Zhen (GERAKAN)	10,344	15.03%	88,812	40,400	77.50%
							Tan Lee Huat (MCA)	7,145	10.38%
							Ong Chin Wen (WARISAN)	450	0.65%
							Lee Ah Liang (PRM)	148	0.22%

References

Political offices
Preceded by Lim Guan Eng	5th Chief Minister of Penang 2018 - present	Incumbent

External links