Penang Governor's Birthday
Saturday, July 11, 2026
The Penang Governor’s Birthday is observed every second Saturday in July. Penang is one of only four states of Malaysia to have a non-hereditary head of state. The governor is instead appointed by the King of Malaysia. In 2026, Penang Governor’s Birthday falls on Saturday 11 July. The holiday will be on Saturday 10 July in 2027. The current governor of Penang, Abdul Rahman Abbas, is on his sixth term in office and celebrates his 80th birthday in 2018. For Penang Governor’s Birthday, there is always a special state awards ceremony held. The governor will arrive and be greeted by high-level government officials, be given a 17-gun salute, and be saluted by the honour guard as he walks past. The governor will then give out awards, and the honorary title of “Datuk”, to those deemed worthy to make the state honour’s list. Over a thousand people may receive awards each year.
History
Penang is one of only four states of Malaysia to have a non-hereditary head of state. The governor is instead appointed by the King of Malaysia. The current governor of Penang, Abdul Rahman Abbas, is on his sixth term in office and celebrates his 80th birthday in 2018. For Penang Governor’s Birthday, there is always a special state awards ceremony held. The governor will then give out awards, and the honorary title of “Datuk”, to those deemed worthy to make the state honour’s list
How It's Celebrated
The Penang Governor’s Birthday is observed every second Saturday in July. The holiday will be on Saturday 10 July in 2027. The current governor of Penang, Abdul Rahman Abbas, is on his sixth term in office and celebrates his 80th birthday in 2018. For Penang Governor’s Birthday, there is always a sp