GEORGE TOWN – Former deputy health minister Datuk Seri Hilmi Abdul Yahaya has emerged as a front runner to become the eighth Penang Yang di-Pertua Negri.
Sources told The Vibes that Hilmi, 72, is expected to receive the appointment letter by the end of this month.
“Yes, Istana Negara has given the green light, and instructions to order official clothes have also been received. He will probably receive an official letter by the end of this month,” he said.
However, there are reservations over his appointment as his political career only ended in 2018.
Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, 83, who was appointed in 2001, is the longest serving Penang governor.
Last week, the state government led by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow met with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at the Istana Negara for an hour, where they were believed to have discussed the matter.
According to the Penang state constitution, the candidate for governor is appointed by the Agong at his discretion after consultation with the chief minister.
Penang Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir said Hilmi is a good choice as he has extensive experience working in state administration and is welcomed by the people in the state.
“Hilmi used to be a state exco and deputy chief minister. His immediate past position was deputy health minister.
“So, I believe he can perform his duties well based on his experience in state and national administrations.”
Hilmi, who is a Balik Pulau native, was appointed Penang deputy chief minister in 1999, and served as Teluk Bahang assemblyman for three terms and Balik Pulau MP for two terms.
However, he failed to defend the Balik Pulau seat in the 2018 general election and announced his resignation from all positions in Umno and Barisan Nasional in May 2018.
Another name suggested
Dewan Negara Senator Yusmadi Yusoff had mooted that academicians, social activists, or scientists be selected as governors for Penang, Melaka, Sabah, and Sarawak.
He said such positions should not just be confined to community leaders and politicians but individuals who have contributed greatly to the respective states.
“Even artistes that have contributed to arts and culture should be considered. If the late (Tan Sri) P. Ramlee was alive, he should be considered for the governor’s post.”
He said he hopes that the Conference of Malay Rulers will consider his suggestion.
Yusmadi said that he would propose, for example, national laureate Prof Emeritus Muhammad Salleh to be considered as the next Penang governor because of his contribution to the historical, heritage, and cultural perspectives of the state.
He added that Salleh’s appointment would be a win for the intelligentsia community in Penang, one of the most vibrant in the country.
In 2008, Salleh was named a national academic figure due to his contribution to the world of Malay history and heritage as well as culture.
Although he was born in Taiping, Perak, Salleh has made Penang his adopted home for decades.
The law does not specify a background qualifying someone to be a governor, except that the candidate must be an exemplary character to society. – The Vibes, March 26, 2021
Additional reporting by Ian McIntyre
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