New Penang Governor Ramli Ngah Talib, an administrative figure with vast experience

New Straits Times

24-04-2025

GEORGE TOWN: The ninth Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang, Tun Ramli Ngah Talib, is no ordinary figure.
He brings with him a wealth of experience and notable achievements in both politics and the country's administration.
Born on March 16, 1941, in Pasir Salak, Perak, Ramli demonstrated his leadership credentials as the eighth Perak Menteri Besar, a position he held for 17 years from 1982 to 1999, making him the longest-serving Menteri Besar in the state's history.
His political journey began in 1978 when he was elected as the Kampung Gajah assemblyman for Kampung Gajah and subsequently appointed as a member of the State Executive Council.
After his tenure in the state's administration, Ramli continued to serve at the national level.
In 2004, he was elected as the Pasir Salak member of parliament.
In his first term in Parliament, he was entrusted to chair the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), a key parliamentary oversight body, before being appointed as the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, a role he held from 2004 to 2008.
Additionally, he was Deputy Transport Minister from 2000 to 2004.
Ramli's leadership within Umno was equally significant, having chaired the Perak Umno Liaison Committee for 16 years (1984–2000) and serving as a member of the Umno Supreme Council for over two decades, from 1980 to 2006.
From an academic perspective, Ramli received his early education at the prestigious Kuala Kangsar Malay College and then continued his studies in law at Queen's University, Belfast, before being admitted as a Barrister-at-Law at Lincoln's Inn, London
During his time in the United Kingdom, Ramli was active in the Students' Union in Belfast and became the editor of the Kesatuan Melayu United Kingdom magazine.
Upon his return to Malaysia, Ramli embarked on an academic career, becoming a law lecturer at the MARA Institute of Technology (now known as Universiti Teknologi MARA, or UiTM). He also served as a part-time lecturer at the University of Malaya in the early 1970s.
In 1971, he made history as the first in-house legal advisor to the National Electricity Board or NEB (now known as Tenaga Nasional Berhad or TNB).
Demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit and legal acumen, he went on to qualify as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya and later co-founded the law firm Kadir, Tan & Ramli in 1977.
During this period, Ramli also expanded his influence in the media and public utilities sectors, serving as a Member of the Board of Directors for Utusan Melayu and NEB.
Ramli's appointment as the ninth Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang takes effect on May 1, 2025.
Earlier, he received the instruments of appointment from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, in a ceremony held at Singgahsana Kecil of Istana Negara.
During the ceremony, Ramli was also conferred the Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara (SMN), one of the nation's highest honours, which carries the title of Tun.
He succeeds Tun Ahmad Fuzi, 76, who has served as the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang since May 1, 2021. With his appointment, Ramli becomes the fourth individual to hold this position without being a native of the state.