[UPDATED] Mohamad Abdul Hamid, Jagdeep appointed as Penang deputy CMs

GEORGE TOWN – Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid and Jagdeep Singh Deo have been appointed as the new deputy chief ministers of the Penang state government. 

Mohamad is the state assemblyman for Batu Maung while Jagdeep is serving as the rep for Datuk Keramat for the fourth straight term following the state election last Saturday. 

Mohamad has been designated as deputy chief minister I while Jagdeep as deputy chief minister II.  

Their appointments were provided to the media just before the ceremony to swear in the state executive council before Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak at Dewan Seri Pinang here this morning. 

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow was sworn in as the chief minister for the second consecutive term before the governor last Sunday.

Umno Supreme Council member Reezal Merican Naina Merican, the assemblyman for Bertam, was a surprise exclusion from the list of the new unity state government’s executive council lineup.

It should be noted that he already holds the position of chairman of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade), a federal government agency, since late last year. Reezal is a former federal minister.

The only other BN state rep in Penang, Rashidi Zinol who won the Sungai Acheh seat, is included in the executive council.

Rashidi is the first BN politician to be appointed to the Penang government in the last fifteen years.

Here is the full lineup of the Penang state exco with their portfolios:

Chow Kon Yeow (chief minister) – Finance, Economic Development & Land and Communications

Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid (deputy chief minister I) – Islamic Development, Education and National Unity 

Jagdeep Singh Deo (deputy chief minister II) – Human Capital Development, Science and Technology 

Rashidi Zinol – Trade and Entrepreneurial Development & Rural Development 

Zairil Khir Johari – Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Development 

Wong Hon Wai – Tourism and Creative Economy 

Lim Siew Khim – Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs 

H’ng Mooi Lye – Local Government and Town & Country Planning 

Gooi Zi Sen – Youth, Sports and Health

Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo – Housing and Environment 

Fahmi Zainol – Agrotechnology & Food Security and Cooperative Development

At a press conference later, Chow underscored the need for the new administration to continue with Penang’s reference masterplan – the Vision 2030.

The plan calls for Penang to be a world-class cosmopolitan city by 2030 with an emphasis on family, quality jobs, technology and protection of the environment.

Chow said that there is also an emphasis on driving more investments into Penang. – The Vibes, August 16, 2023