Penang has no plans to extend chief minister term limit beyond two terms, says Chow Kon Yeow

GEORGE TOWN, May 11 — The Penang government currently has no plans to amend the chief minister’s two-term limit to 10 years, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said today.

Chow (PH–Padang Kota) said the existing provisions in the Penang Constitution are already clear on the limit for holding the post.

He said Article 7 Clause 2(a) of the state constitution stipulates that the Yang di-Pertua Negeri shall appoint as chief minister a state assemblyman who commands the confidence of the majority and who has never at any time held the office for two terms.

“In situations where the state legislative assembly is dissolved before a term reaches five years, the term ‘two terms’ should be understood as a cumulative calculation of the years involved in the first and second terms,” he said during the state assembly sitting today.

He added that while the combined duration of two terms may be less than 10 years, it cannot exceed 10 years.

Chow was responding to a question from Lee Khai Loon (PH–Machang Bubuk) on whether the state government was prepared to amend the chief minister’s term limit to 10 years.

Penang became the first state in Malaysia to formally legislate a two-term limit for the chief minister’s tenure.

The limit was approved through amendments to the Penang Constitution in November 2018 as part of efforts to strengthen political governance in the state.

Chow also said Article 19 Clause 3 of the state constitution provides that the legislative assembly shall continue for five years from the date of its first sitting unless dissolved earlier.

He said the state government believes the current interpretation of the two-term limit is sufficient and does not require any amendment at this time.