The Penang government has no intention of amending the state constitution to extend the chief minister’s two-term limit to 10 years, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said today.
Chow, who is also Padang Kota assemblyman, said the existing provisions in the Penang Constitution already clearly define the restriction on the tenure of the state’s top leadership post.
He explained that Article 7(2)(a) of the state constitution requires the Yang di-Pertua Negeri to appoint as chief minister a state assemblyman who commands majority confidence and who has not previously held the office for two terms.
Chow added that in cases where the state legislative assembly is dissolved before completing a full five-year term, the definition of “two terms” is calculated based on the cumulative duration of service.
He clarified that while the combined length of two terms may be less than 10 years in some circumstances, it cannot exceed the 10-year threshold under the current framework.
The chief minister was responding to a question raised by Machang Bubuk assemblyman Lee Khai Loon during the state legislative assembly sitting.
Penang is the first state in Malaysia to formally introduce a two-term limit for the chief minister’s post, following constitutional amendments approved in November 2018 aimed at strengthening governance and accountability.
Chow also referred to Article 19(3) of the state constitution, which states that the legislative assembly shall continue for five years from its first sitting unless dissolved earlier.
He said the state government is satisfied that the current constitutional interpretation is sufficient and sees no need for amendments at this stage.
