Teh Lai Heng

Summary

Teh Lai Heng is a DAP politician who has represented the Komtar state constituency in the Penang State Legislative Assembly since 2013, winning the seat in three consecutive elections. He holds internal party positions as Treasurer of DAP Penang State and sits on the state assembly's select committee on state-federal relations. His legislative focus has included urban governance, state revenue, public service accessibility, and the revitalisation of the Komtar complex.

Biography

Teh Lai Heng (Chinese: 郑来兴) is a Malaysian politician who has served as the Member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Komtar (N28) since May 2013 [1]. He is a member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition [1]. Teh received his early education at SMJK Jit Sin and pursued tertiary studies at Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC) in Penang. In 2022, he obtained a Master's Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) [1]. He currently holds the position of Treasurer of DAP Penang State and Secretary of DAP Tanjong PLC [1]. He sits on the Penang State Legislative Assembly's select committee on state-federal relations [2][3]. Teh first contested the Komtar seat in the 2004 general election under DAP, losing to MCA's Dato Lim Gim Soon. After the 2008 election, he was appointed Special Officer to then-Penang DAP Chairman and State Executive Councillor Chow Kon Yeow, and later as a councillor for the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) and Political Secretary to Chow [1]. He won the Komtar seat in 2013, defeating MCA's Loh Chye Teik with a majority of 8,114 votes, and has since successfully defended it in 2018 and the 2023 Penang state election [1]. Following the 2018 election, he was appointed political secretary to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow [2]. The Komtar constituency covers George Town's city centre, including the Komtar Tower — Penang's tallest skyscraper and its administrative hub — as well as a portion of the UNESCO World Heritage Site [1]).

Known for

Teh Lai Heng is primarily known as the long-serving DAP assemblyman for Komtar, holding the seat since 2013 and re-elected in both 2018 and the 2023 Penang state election. He has been a consistent voice in the Penang State Legislative Assembly on issues of urban governance, state finances, and the revitalisation of the Komtar complex. Within DAP, he serves as Treasurer of the Penang state committee for the 2024–2027 term, reflecting a sustained role in the party's internal administration [2][4].

Political positions

Teh Lai Heng has raised proposals in the Penang State Legislative Assembly on state revenue, suggesting a review of land tax rates as one avenue to increase state income, while acknowledging the political sensitivity of such a move [5][6]. He has advocated for consolidating federal government services under one roof at Komtar Tower to improve public service accessibility, particularly for residents in George Town and Seberang Perai [7][8]. On urban infrastructure, he has called for the blacklisting of underperforming contractors and stricter project monitoring by the state government [5][6]. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he proposed a full two-week movement restriction for Penang to curb the Delta variant, stating publicly in the Penang State Legislative Assembly that the measure was necessary to prevent the public healthcare system from being overwhelmed [9][10]. He has also pushed for the opening of a Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) office at the UTC in Komtar to ease the burden on businesses and entrepreneurs in the area [7][11]. On the Komtar complex revitalisation, he has proposed a zero-rent scheme to attract businesses in bulk, as well as zoning the complex into arts, culture, retail, and food clusters [2][12]. He is a member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly's select committee on state-federal relations [2][3].

Education

1. Pre-2004Received early education at SMJK Jit Sin and pursued tertiary studies at Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC), Penang.⛓
2. 2022Obtained a Master's Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).⛓

Before politics

1. 2008Following the 2008 general election, appointed as Special Officer to Chow Kon Yeow, who was then the Penang DAP Chairman and State Executive Councillor.⛓
2. 2011Appointed as a Councillor for the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) and concurrently served as Political Secretary to Chow Kon Yeow.⛓

Political career

1. 2004Made his electoral debut contesting the newly created N28 Komtar state seat under DAP. Lost to MCA's Dato Lim Gim Soon, receiving 4,732 votes against Lim's 7,732.⛓
2. May 2013Won the Komtar state seat in the 13th General Election, defeating MCA's Loh Chye Teik with a majority of 8,114 votes. First elected to the Penang State Legislative Assembly.⛓
3. May 2018Successfully defended the Komtar state seat in the 14th General Election (GE14).⛓
4. May 2018Appointed as Political Secretary to Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow following the 2018 election.⛓
5. August 2023Won the Komtar state seat in the 2023 Penang state election (part of the 6-state elections), polling 9,279 votes (59.7% vote share) against Perikatan Nasional's Cheah Kim Huat.⛓
6. September 2024Elected as Treasurer of DAP Penang State at the Penang DAP Ordinary Convention, for the 2024–2027 term.⛓

Election history

• 2023Komtar (N28)Won59.7%⛓
• 2018Komtar (N28)Won⛓
• 2013Komtar (N28)Won⛓
• 2004Komtar (N28)Lost⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentTeh Lai Heng is aligned with the Penang state government led by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow under the Pakatan Harapan coalition. He previously served as Political Secretary to Chow Kon Yeow following the 2018 election and is regarded as being within the Chow camp in DAP internal politics. Three winners at the 2024 Penang DAP convention — including Teh — were described by The Star as aligned to Chow.⛓
• VerifiedFactsTeh Lai Heng has held the Komtar state seat continuously since 2013, winning in 2013, 2018, and 2023. In the 2023 Penang state election he received 9,279 votes (59.7%), with Perikatan Nasional's candidate receiving 1,435 votes (9.2%). The constituency had 15,532 registered voters.⛓