FORMER Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tun Ramli Ngah Talib has been appointed as the ninth Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang, with his term set to begin on May 1, 2025.
The 84-year-old received his official letter of appointment from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim during a formal investiture ceremony held at the Singgahsana Kecil, Istana Negara, today.
An official ceremony steeped in tradition was held at Istana Negara in the presence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim where Ramli presented his credentials and received appointment decree from the national Ruler.
At the same ceremony, Ramli was also conferred the Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara (SMN) award, one of the country’s highest honours, which carries the title Tun.
Ramli's appointment was made in accordance with Article 1 of the Constitution of the State of Penang and will see him serve a four-year term from 1 May 2025 until 30 April 2029.
He succeeds Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, who has held the position since 1 May 2021.
A host of senior government leaders, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, attended the official ceremony at Istana Negara today where Tun Ramli Ngah Talib was appointed the ninth Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang.
Also present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Dewan Negara President Senator Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong, and Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying.
Ramli, a native of Pasir Salak, Perak, Ramli was born on 16 March 1941 and holds the record as the longest-serving Menteri Besar of Perak, having held the post for 17 years from 1982 to 1999. His political journey began in 1978 when he was elected as the state assemblyman for Kampung Gajah, later joining the Perak State Executive Council.
Following his tenure in state government, Ramli transitioned to the national stage as Member of Parliament for Pasir Salak from 2004. During his first term, he was appointed chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), before serving as Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat from 2004 to 2008.
He also held the role of Deputy Transport Minister from 2000 to 2004 and led the Perak UMNO liaison body for 16 years (1984–2000), while serving on UMNO’s Supreme Council for more than two decades.
Academically, Ramli is an alumnus of the prestigious Malay College Kuala Kangsar. He went on to study law at Queen’s University, Belfast, and qualified as a Barrister-at-Law from Lincoln’s Inn, London. While in the United Kingdom, he was active in the student movement and served as editor of the United Kingdom Malay Students’ Union magazine.
Upon returning to Malaysia, Ramli became a law lecturer at Institut Teknologi MARA (now Universiti Teknologi MARA, UiTM), and also lectured part-time at Universiti Malaya in the early 1970s. In 1971, he was appointed the first in-house legal adviser for the National Electricity Board (now Tenaga Nasional Berhad), later becoming an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya. He co-founded the law firm Kadir, Tan & Ramli in 1977.
During this period, he also served as a board member of Utusan Melayu and the National Electricity Board.
His appointment as Penang Governor takes effect from 1 May 2025, following a formal investiture at Istana Negara where he received his letter of appointment from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim. At the same ceremony, he was conferred the Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara (SMN) award, which carries the title Tun.
He succeeds Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, 76, who held the role since May1, 20 21. Tun Ramli is the fourth individual to hold the post of Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang without being a native of the state. April 24, 2025
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