Penang had British leaders for a long time. Francis Light was the first Superintendent in 1786. After Merdeka, the governors/Yang DiPertua Negeri were Malay men.
PENANG GOVERNORS
- Raja Tun Uda Al Haj bin Raja Muhammad, Gabenor, 1957
- Tun Syed Sheh Shahabuddin, Gabenor, 1967
- Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, Gabenor, 1969
- Tun Haji Sardon bin Haji Jubir, Yang DiPertua Negeri, 1975
- Tun Datuk Dr Haji Awang bin Hassan, Yang DiPertua Negeri, 1981
- Tun Tan Sri Datuk (Dr) Haji Hamdan bin Sheikh Tahir, Yang DiPertua Negeri, 1989
- Tun Dato' Seri Utama (Dr) Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abbas, Yang DiPertua Negeri, 2001
List taken from: HT Ong. To Heal The Sick, page 188.