Penang is located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia. A former British crown colony, Penang is one of only four Malaysian states without a hereditary monarchy. The head of state of Penang is the Governor, known in Malay as Yang di-Pertua Negeri.  

The governor is appointed by the King of Malaysia. The present Governor of Penang is Abdul Rahman Abbas, who assumed office in 2001 and has been reappointed six times since.  

Abdul Rahman Abbas was born on April 15th 1938, so the date of this holiday is honorific, though it was probably established to mark the birthday of a previous Yang di-Pertua Negeri. The office of governor was established in August 1957 when Malaysia gained its independence.