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Malaysian politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 of Penang since May 2019 as well as the National Vice Chairman of DAP since September 2004. He also served as the State Chairman of DAP of Penang from 1999 to September 2024. He is presently the only non-Muslim and Chinese head of state government among the 13 Malaysian states.[1]
Chow Kon Yeow | |
|---|---|
| 曹观友 | |
Chow in 2019 | |
| 5th Chief Minister of Penang | |
| Assumed office 14 May 2018 | |
| Governor | Abdul Rahman Abbas (2018–2021) Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak (since 2021) |
| Deputy | Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman (2018–2023) Ramasamy Palanisamy (2018–2023) Mohamad Abdul Hamid (since 2023) Jagdeep Singh Deo (since 2023) |
| Preceded by | Lim Guan Eng |
| Constituency | Padang Kota |
| Member 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 2018 | |
| Governor | Abdul Rahman Abbas |
| Chief Minister | Lim Guan Eng |
| Preceded by | Teng Hock Nan (Local Government and Traffic Management) Teng Chang Yeow (Environment) |
| Succeeded by | Jagdeep Singh Deo (Local Government and Traffic Management) Zairil Khir Johari (Flood Mitigation) |
| Constituency | Padang Kota |
| 1st State Chairman of the Pakatan Harapan of Penang | |
| Assumed office 21 May 2019 | |
| President | Wan Azizah Wan Ismail |
| National Chairman | Mahathir Mohamad (2019–2020) Anwar Ibrahim (since 2020) |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| National Vice Chairman of the Democratic Action Party | |
| Assumed office 4 September 2004 | |
| National Chairman | Karpal Singh (2004–2014) Tan Kok Wai (2014–2022) Lim Guan Eng (since 2022) |
| Secretary-General | Lim Guan Eng (2004–2022) Anthony Loke Siew Fook (since 2022) |
| State Chairman of the Democratic Action Party of Penang | |
| In office 1999 – 22 September 2024 | |
| Deputy | Jagdeep Singh Deo |
| Secretary-General | Kerk Kim Hock (1999–2004) Lim Guan Eng (2004–2022) Anthony Loke Siew Fook (2022–2024) |
| National Chairman | Lim Kit Siang (1999–2004) Karpal Singh (2004–2014) Tan Kok Wai (2014–2022) Lim Guan Eng (2022–2024) |
| Succeeded by | Steven Sim Chee Keong |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Batu Kawan | |
| Assumed office 19 November 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Kasthuriraani Patto (PH–DAP) |
| Majority | 40,400 (2022) |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Tanjong | |
| In office 9 May 2018 – 19 November 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Ng Wei Aik (PR–DAP) |
| Succeeded by | Lim Hui Ying (PH–DAP) |
| Majority | 29,599 (2018) |
| In office 29 November 1999 – 5 May 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Lim Kit Siang (DAP) |
| Succeeded by | Ng Wei Aik (PR–DAP) |
| Majority | 4,477 (1999) 4,228 (2004) 18,489 (2008) |
| Member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly for Padang Kota | |
| Assumed office 8 March 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Teng Chang Yeow (BN–GERAKAN) |
| Majority | 1,661 (2008) 7,196 (2013) 7,808 (2018) 7,116 (2023) |
| Member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly for Pengkalan Kota | |
| In office 21 October 1990 – 24 April 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Teoh Teik Huat (DAP) |
| Succeeded by | Lee Hack Teik (BN–MCA) |
| Majority | 3,670 (1990) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Chow Kon Yeow 14 November 1958 Kuala Lumpur, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia) |
| Citizenship | Malaysian |
| Political party | Democratic Action Party (DAP) |
| Other political affiliations | Gagasan Rakyat (GR) (1990–1996) Barisan Alternatif (BA) (1999–2004) Pakatan Rakyat (PR) (2008–2015) Pakatan Harapan (PH) (since 2015) |
| Spouse | Tan Lean Kee |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Science Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman University College SMK Cochrane |
| Signature |  |
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 the Vice National Chairman under Lim Guan Eng.[3]
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.
| 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% | |||
| 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% | ||||||||||
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