KUALA LUMPUR – The appointment Penang’s new governor is expected to take place soon, with former Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Dr Ramli Ngah Talib widely tipped to assume the role.
A ceremony for the official presentation of appointment credentials is scheduled to be held at Istana Negara in the presence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim on a Thursday, Sinar Harian reported.
As of this evening, however, no formal confirmation had been issued by the Chief Minister’s Office or Istana Negara.
Scoop had earlier reported that Ramli was the frontrunner to replace Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, who will be stepping down after serving just one term. Fuzi was expected to step down on May 1 this year, which falls on a Thursday.
Ramli, 84, is a veteran statesman with decades of experience in both federal and state politics. He served as Perak Menteri Besar from 1982 to 1999, making him the state’s longest-serving chief minister, and later as Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat from 2004 to 2008.
He also held the post of Deputy Transport Minister, and represented Pasir Salak in Parliament as well as Kampung Gajah in the Perak State Assembly.
In addition to his political career, Ramli was appointed Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Malaya and is a published author, with works focusing on Malay history and heritage.
Should the appointment be confirmed, Ramli will replace Tun Ahmad Fuzi, 76, who has held the largely ceremonial role since May 1, 2021.
A Penang native, Ahmad Fuzi is a former secretary-general of the Foreign Ministry and served as Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) between 2004 and 2009.
News of his early departure has prompted questions, particularly due to the brevity of his term.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had earlier confirmed that the state government submitted a list of candidates to the Prime Minister’s Office in March.
However, he declined to disclose any names, maintaining that the final decision lies with the palace.
Appointments of Yang di-Pertua Negeri are made with the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong based on the advice of the Prime Minister, in line with the Federal Constitution.
Tun Ahmad Fuzi’s departure would make him one of Penang’s shortest-serving governors. While the position is mostly ceremonial, it does carry the authority to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly. The next state election is due in October 2028.
Historically, Penang’s governors have often been appointed from outside the state. Among them were Tun Sardon Jubir (1975–1981) and Tun Awang Hassan (1981–1989), both from Johor, as well as Tun Hamdan Sheikh Tahir (1989–2001), who hailed from Perak. – April 23, 2025