Understanding Political Economy Through The Microcosmic Night Market
4 min read
THE POLITICAL ECONOMY encompassing the night market is strangely illuminative of human society. Why do I say that?
Now, one…
October 2026
Penang Monthly’s October 2026 issue explores the many levels of liveability—what makes Penang not only functional, but truly feel like home. Drawing on the Penang Satisfaction Survey 2026, it examines residents’ views on governance, affordability, healthcare, transport, environmental pressures and community life. The issue also considers Penang’s evolving role as a medical hub, the promise and challenges of a cashless society, and ways to build more inclusive public spaces. Beyond policy, it celebrates the state’s cultural memory through Teochew heritage, a remarkable 1768 account of Penang, local changemakers, sustainability and the arts.
Penang’s Pasar Malam: The Rhythm Of Community And Local Business
10 min read
ASIA’S NIGHT MARKETS, or “pasar malam”, as they are called in Malaysia, are a popular and established form of…
Photographing The “Dying Trades” of George Town
5 min read
I WAS FLÂNEURING among artisanal traders along the streets and alleys of George Town in 1996, with a Leica R…
Filling Borrowed Space And Fleeting Time The Pasar Malam As Penang’s Temporary Architect
5 min read
EVEN BY MID-AFTERNOON, there is still little to suggest that two ordinary streets in Taman Tun Sardon and Jalan…
The Human Element: Reflection On The Pasar Malam
5 min read
“SAYA JUAL.” I’m selling. “Saya beli.” I’m buying. This verbal exchange, the akad muamalat, was once a key…
Responsibility For Waste Is Highest At Our Most Beloved Shared Spaces
5 min read
FEW PLACES CAPTURE the spirit of Malaysian community life quite like the pasar malam. Besides being valued for their convenience…
Spectacle, “Snake Oil” And Satay: The Curious Story Of Penang’s Pasar Malam
10 min read
THE SATAY SMOKE reaches you before the stalls do: smell has never respected queueing etiquette. I had not been to…
The Big Generative AI Challenge Assessing And Embedding Authenticity In Higher Education
4 min read
THE WIDESPREAD AVAILABILITY and use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools, such as DeepSeek and ChatGPT, present significant challenges to…
The Accidental Influencer: Pak Wiy’s Misson To Document Seberang Perai’s Pasar Malam
7 min read
AMID THE BUSTLING lanes of Pasar Malam Kepala Batas, where the aromas of satay, durian and freshly cooked food mingle,…
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