[5] To this day, Penang remains the only Malaysian state where the position of the head of government has been continuously held by an ethnic Chinese since the nation's independence in 1957.

[6] Notably, Penang is also the only Malaysian state which appoints two Deputy Chief Ministers - one representing the Malay community and the other an ethnic Indian.

It has endured a secession attempt, periods of partisanship and fiscal imbalances brought about by Malaysia's highly-centralised power structure.

The movement sought to gain support from the British government and attempted to move a motion of secession through Penang's legislature, but eventually petered out.

[40][41] In 1969, the Malaysian federal government revoked George Town's free port status, sparking the city's decline and widespread unemployment within the state.

[42][43] The deteriorating economy became a major issue in the 1969 election, leading to the opposition party Gerakan taking control of the Penang state government from the ruling Alliance.

[38] Chief Minister Lim Chong Eu was able to secure autonomy and freedom to implement economic reforms, by maintaining ties with Abdul Razak and ensuring order within Penang.

[43] In 1973, Gerakan joined the ruling Alliance (renamed Barisan Nasional) to guarantee Penang's inclusion in national development policies.

[45] This situation endured until the 2018 elections, when Pakatan Harapan assumed federal power for the first time in Malaysia's history.

[38] Nonetheless, calls for fiscal devolution and decentralisation still persist, as the federal constitution constricts each state's ability to generate revenue.