A leader's role is not just about issuing statements and making headlines – Penang CM

PENANG Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow will be the first Malaysian politician to serve in a term-imposed leadership role - something the country has never witnessed, with one prime minister having achieved a record of leading for 22 years in his first term and an additional three years in the second tenure.

Recalling his past years, Chow said he had to stand firm in some cases in his administration despite being portrayed as indecisive or weak by certain quarters.

"From a journalist to a politician, from documenting society to participating in change; from a young political worker to the Chief Minister of Penang. After decades in politics, I am now entering my final term as Chief Minister."

Chow said that politics is a public trust and requires objectivity, courage, and integrity, while social interests must be placed before personal ambitions, he outlined.

"This is perhaps the belief I have held throughout my decades - long political career.

"In 2018, I took office as the fifth Chief Minister of Penang. Now, as my final term draws to a close, I've begun to look back on my political career from a different perspective.

“This reflection isn't just about what I've done; more importantly, I've been pondering: what will Penang be like when I'm no longer in this position,” he said.

To Chow, he sees a legacy left behind in the governance system rather than personal glory of the time he was the chief minister.

Chow faced arguably one of the toughest tenures as chief minister despite reports of increasing foreign direct investments and the commencement of many infrastructure projects including the Mutiara Light Rail Transit (LRT).

He had to manage the pandemic, political strife, US-imposed import tariffs, climate change and, of late, a wobbly global economic outlook.

Chow said that before he became a politician, he was firstly a journalist.

"I have always considered journalism as my first training ground before entering the public service field."

"Journalism allowed me to step into the most authentic corners of society, to meet people from different backgrounds and social classes, and to understand that policies are never just cold words."

Another thing journalism has taught him is humility, said Chow.

"A leader's role is not just about issuing statements and making headlines, but about whether the people truly feel that their lives have improved," said Chow.

Chow also supported the term limit for the chief ministership.

"When the next generation takes over Penang, and it is better and more capable of facing the future than the Penang I took over from. I will feel that all the things I have done over the years have not been in vain," he concluded. - September 18, 2026.