NO REQUIREMENT ON STATE GOVERNOR ORIGINATING FROM PENANG IN STATE CONSTITUTION

GEORGE TOWN, March 20 (Bernama) -- There is no prerequisite in the State Constitution that requires the appointment of the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang to be among those who have served or are from the state.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said instead, the selection is made based on the status, experience and qualifications of the individual.

"In the history of the appointment of the Yang Dipertua Negeri, there have been individuals, namely two or three people who were not born in Penang but were still appointed to the position and the State Constitution does not stipulate the condition that the Yang Dipertua Negeri must be from Penang.

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"On the contrary, the selection is made based on status, experience and qualifications. So that (being a native of Penang) is not a condition for the appointment," he said at a press conference here today.

The current Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang, Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, will end his term on April 30.

Yesterday, the state government confirmed that it had submitted a list of names of candidates for the new Yang Dipertua Negeri to the Prime Minister's Office for the consideration of His Majesty, Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia.

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Chow added that he would not disclose the number of names submitted and that it was up to His Majesty's discretion to make a decision.

He said the state government also respected the discretion of the King in determining the candidates who are qualified to hold the position.

"As I said, this (the appointment of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri) is the discretion of the King, so, we (the state government) are only doing what is supposed to be done, which is to submit the names of potential candidates," he said.

Asked whether the discretion to appoint the Yang di-Pertua Negeri was with the Chief Minister, Chow said that was not true and according to the State Constitution Article 1 (1), the Yang di-Pertua Negeri must be appointed by the King after discussing with the Chief Minister.

"Discussions in this case mean submitting the names of potential candidates through the Prime Minister's Office which we have done and all parties are asked to be patient and wait (for the official announcement)," he said.

Earlier, the media reported on the candidates for the new Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang to replace Tun Ahmad Fuzi who held the position since May 1 2021.

Among the names mentioned is former Menteri Besar of Perak Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib.

-- BERNAMA