June 2026

Discover Penang’s living heritage in this month’s issue: from the revival of historic clan houses and district associations to new voices in the arts, community, and cultural preservation. Explore how tradition meets modernity as Penang’s diverse communities adapt, innovate, and celebrate their unique identity.

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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

The Inclusive Ownership Of Penang And Its Paradoxes

3 min read

What makes a Penangite is not birthplace, but attachment. In this reflection on identity and belonging, Penang emerges as a place shaped by contradiction—provincial yet cosmopolitan, fragile yet resilient—held together by the people who care enough to claim it as their own.

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Managing the Times: Businesses Evolved 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 Rachel Yeoh & Ong Siou Woon

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 Nicole Chang

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

From Chinese zongzi to Nyonya chang and Malay ketupat palas, leaf-wrapped rice dumplings reflect centuries of migration, adaptation and culinary creativity. This exploration traces their global roots, regional variations and the innovations keeping these festive traditions alive today.

by Dr. Ong Jin Teong

Tiger Hill: Exploring One of Penang’s Tallest Peaks

6 min read

The view of Air Itam and George Town as seen from the first part of the hike.

by Rexy Prakash Chacko

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