# Chow Kon Yeow

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.

## Appointment as National Vice Chairman

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. He was then re-appointed the Vice National Chairman under Lim Guan Eng.

## Personal life

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.
Chow married Tan Lean Kee and the couple has two sons.
He tested positive for COVID-19 on 1 November 2022.

## Election results

Penang State Legislative Assembly :
| 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 | N23 Pengkalan Kota | Chow Kon Yeow (DAP) | 7,523 | 44.27% | Lee Hack Teik (MCA) | 9,036 | 53.18% | 16,993 | 1,513 | 78.79% |
| 1995 | N23 Pengkalan Kota | Chow Kon Yeow (DAP) | 7,523 | 44.27% | Khoo Soo Hoe (PBS) | 131 | 0.77% | 16,993 | 1,513 | 78.79% |
| 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 | N26 Padang Kota | Chow Kon Yeow (DAP) | 6,449 | 57.14% | Teng Chang Yeow (Gerakan) | 4,788 | 42.42% | 11,507 | 1,661 | 68.89% |
| 2013 | N26 Padang Kota | Chow Kon Yeow (DAP) | 9,563 | 80.03% | Oh Tong Keong (Gerakan) | 2,367 | 19.81% | 12,078 | 7,196 | 78.56% |
| 2018 | N26 Padang Kota | Chow Kon Yeow (DAP) | 9,278 | 85.75% | H'ng Khoon Leng (Gerakan) | 1,470 | 13.59% | 10,961 | 7,808 | 75.72% |
| 2018 | N26 Padang Kota | Chow Kon Yeow (DAP) | 9,278 | 85.75% | Goh Saik Wei (MUP) | 71 | 0.66% | 10,961 | 7,808 | 75.72% |
| 2023 | N26 Padang Kota | Chow Kon Yeow (DAP) | 8,261 | 87.83% | H'ng Khoon Leng (Gerakan) | 1,145 | 12.17% | 9,406 | 7,116 | 62.02% |
Parliament of Malaysia :
| 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 | P049 Tanjong | Chow Kon Yeow (DAP) | 28,248 | 74.14% | Keow Veon Szu (Gerakan) | 9,759 | 25.61% | 38,734 | 18,489 | 72.82% |
| 2018 | P049 Tanjong | 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% |
| 2022 | P046 Batu Kawan | Chow Kon Yeow (DAP) | 50,744 | 73.72% | Tan Lee Huat (MCA) | 7,145 | 10.38% | 88,812 | 40,400 | 77.50% |
| 2022 | P046 Batu Kawan | Chow Kon Yeow (DAP) | 50,744 | 73.72% | Ong Chin Wen (WARISAN) | 450 | 0.65% | 88,812 | 40,400 | 77.50% |
| 2022 | P046 Batu Kawan | Chow Kon Yeow (DAP) | 50,744 | 73.72% | Lee Ah Liang (PRM) | 148 | 0.22% | 88,812 | 40,400 | 77.50% |

## Honours

* Malaysia :
** Recipient of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal (2024)