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.

Sustainability Is Good, But Not Enough; Let’s Aim For Satisfiability

3 min read

This article highlights the paradox of sustainable development: while necessary, unchecked global “development” risks ecological collapse. Ooi Kee Beng argues this calls for a deeper shift beyond sustainability towards “satisfiability,” focusing on sufficiency, ethics, and collective well-being.

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Merapoh: A Glimpse Into Malaysia's Ecotourism Future

5 min read

At the quiet edge of Pahang, Merapoh opens into one of the world’s oldest rainforests, where biodiversity, community and conservation converge. Here, ecotourism unfolds gently—less spectacle than possibility—offering Malaysia a rare blueprint for a more deliberate, living future.

by Peter Ong

Greening Penang’s Hotels: Wishful Thinking or Achievable Target?

6 min read

BY 2030, the Penang state government envisions an ambitious target of 80% of local hotels adopting green practices.[1] Tourism…

by Assif Shamim & Renuka Radakrishnan

Renuka Radakrishnan

Design For Strength: From Built Structures To Resilient Living Systems

5 min read

IN OCTOBER, the Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) Northern Chapter convened the World Architecture Day Symposium 2025 at the Penang Waterfront…

by Nicole Chang

Pursing A Nomadic Artisanal Life At Haloo House

6 min read

…

by Pan Yi Chieh

A Tale of Tourism In Two States: Sustainability Approaches For Penang And Sarawak

5 min read

ON 30 MARCH, the International Day of Zero Waste, the United Nations (UN) Environment Programme and UN Tourism launched the…

by Elizabeth Su

Separated Through Necessity? Gendered Segregation Among The Aged And Homeless

5 min read

Gender-segregated homes for Penang’s elderly poor reveal a quieter reality of ageing—where care is shaped by constraint, vulnerability and cultural unease. Beyond shelter and survival, they expose how loneliness, dignity and intimacy persist even at life’s margins, often unspoken but deeply present.

by Carolyn Khor

The Limits of Organised Inclusion: Some Insights From Engaged Youth In Penang

4 min read

“Young people are the leaders of tomorrow” is often spoken as affirmation, yet rarely matched by real influence today. Through the voices of four Penangites, this piece examines how inclusion without power leaves youth present—but still waiting at the margins of decision-making.

by Dr. Suresraj Therambarajoo

Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital: A Legacy of Hope And Love

7 min read

Born of Bishop Francis Chan’s final wish, Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital grew from a modest charitable home into a pillar of compassionate care in Penang. Sustained by faith, community and quiet sacrifice, its legacy endures as a testament to dignity in life’s final chapter.

by Koay Su Lyn

Malaysia’s Kindergarten Reform: A More Complicated Improvement Than Imagined

5 min read

…

by Dr. Rahida Aini

The Perfect Pace: Cycling In Northern Southeast Asia And Southern China

5 min read

FOR YEARS, I have cycled through much of what was once called “Indochina”—specifically Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia—and…

by Liew Chi Khong

Keeping The Tourism Industry Inclusive And Sustainable For The Habitat Foundation (THF) & Sustainable Tourism Malaysia (STM)

11 min read

THE CHANGES TO George Town’s core heritage area over the last decade have been significant. Although the “hardware”—the…

by Sumei Toh

Sumei Toh

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