June 2026

Discover Penang Monthly’s June issue: explore the stories behind Penang’s enduring heritage brands, the richness of its multilingual and multicultural heritage, innovative local businesses, community-led initiatives, and the challenges shaping the state’s future. From family enterprises and semiconductor pioneers to traditional food, festivals, education, and environmental sustainability, this issue celebrates Penang’s resilience, identity, and capacity for renewal.

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A publication of Penang Institute, Penang Monthly is the voice of Penang - an inspiring read for the curious Malaysian, featuring stories about the people, ideas, and issues shaping the state's well-being. Sign up for a free account to enjoy unlimited access to all our articles.

Speaking of CHT… on Penang Seizing the Moment and Breaking from Industrial Silos

8 min read

AS USUAL, THIS column highlights an exciting personality from Penang, no doubt because of what they have achieved, but more…

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Managing The Times Businesses Evolve To Thrive

6 min read

Penang’s heritage businesses survive not by resisting change, but by evolving without losing their identity. Across generations, trust, craftsmanship and adaptability remain the foundations of their enduring relevance.

by Business

Business

A Watery Conumdrum: Improving Water Supply Amidst Climate Change

5 min read

WATER IS BECOMING an increasingly precious resource, yet Penang still lives in a state of functional illusion. Every day, we…

by Ian McIntyre

A Reputation For Style Sustained By Heritage Brands

5 min read

Penang’s fashion heritage lives through brands that balance tradition with reinvention. From batik and tailoring to menswear and jewellery, these enduring names continue shaping how identity and style are expressed across generations.

by Shenna Tham

Designed By Penang Cultivating Local Champions For The Global Semiconductor Value Chain

5 min read

…

by Kenneth Ong

Mai Cerita: A Student Project With High Intercultural Ambitions

4 min read

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN you bring together two distinct Malaysian puppetry traditions? In December 2025, I participated in “Mai Cerita, Hidupkan…

by Business

Business

Phoenix Press Rising: Publishing as a Creative Industry

4 min read

From printing bus tickets in post-war Malaya to operating advanced presses today, The Phoenix Press embodies Penang’s culture of adaptation and endurance. Its story is one of quiet innovation, where tradition and technology continue to coexist across generations.

by Lim Wan Phing

Built to Last: Lessons to Learn from Penang’s Many Heritage Brands

5 min read

Penang’s heritage brands endure not through nostalgia alone, but through clarity, consistency and community. From hawker stalls to historic hotels, their stories reveal that lasting brands are built as much on experience and identity as on the products themselves.

by Bernard Cheah

Penang as a Heritage Linguistic System

5 min read

George Town’s heritage is carried not only in buildings and festivals, but also in the languages woven through its streets and daily exchanges. As urban change reshapes the city, this piece asks what it truly means to preserve a living heritage rooted in multilingual life.

by Miriam Devaprasana

The Mighty Chang Variations of The Chinese Wrapped Glutinous Rice Dumpling

7 min read

…

by Dr. Ong Jin Teong

Tiger Hill: Exploring One of Penang’s Tallest Peaks

6 min read

THE HILLS AROUND Air Itam are often considered well-explored and have long been favoured by hikers. Yet hidden within their…

by Rexy Prakash Chacko

A Question of Decency: Two Nude Men And The Penang Swimming Club

11 min read

THE STORY OF the Penang Swimming Club began on the rocks at Tanjong Bungah, at half-past nine on a Sunday…

by Eugene Quah

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