Dr. Beh May Ting

is an urban anthropologist and a senior analyst in Penang Institute. She draws professional and personal inspirations from the finer things in life.

11 posts

A Mind That Inspires, A Mentor Who Guides

4 min read

At his core, Kee Beng is an anarchist—not in the reckless, chaotic sense, but philosophically. He distrusts power structures that stifle independent thought, and he resists hierarchies that demand obedience over understanding.

by Dr. Beh May Ting

Regaining the Right to Enjoy Education

3 min read

THE RECENT ISSUE of candidates failing to attend national examinations has sparked significant debate. 10,160 out of the 383,…

by Dr. Beh May Ting

Innovations in Traditional Food Manufacturing

4 min read

WHEN WE THINK about soy sauce and Chinese herbal soups, we often see images of family meals and comfort food. In Chinese families, a bowl of hot herbal soup and...

by Dr. Beh May Ting

Uniting Communities Through Sports and Traditions

2 min read

FEW ACTIVITIES can transcend ethnic, cultural, religious and language differences the way sports can. Team sports, in particular, relies heavily on esprit de co...

by Dr. Beh May Ting

A Caffeinated Career Journey

4 min read

COFFEE BREWING IN the past would conjure images of elderly men clad in white Pagoda singlets at the rear section of kopitiams pouring cups of dark fragrant liqu...

by Dr. Beh May Ting

What’s in a Kampung Name?

5 min read

EVER WONDERED WHY certain kampungs are so named? Maybe they were named after their founders or an upstanding community member? Or perhaps, they got their names...

by Dr. Beh May Ting

From Kopi-O to Espresso: Easy Crossing of Boundaries in Coffee Houses

5 min read

ARTISANAL CAFÉS ARE now as ubiquitous as kopitiams in Penang.In the early 2010s, new Melbourne-inspired independently owned cafés serving coffee along with West...

by Dr. Beh May Ting

Batik in Penang—Surviving on Different Fronts

5 min read

TRACES OF BATIK motifs can be found in most traditional Malaysian households, and on most things we use. For example, taking a stroll down Penang Road or steppi...

by Dr. Beh May Ting

InvestPenang on the Past, Present and Future of Penang’s Industrialisation

7 min read

IN CONJUNCTION WITH the 50th anniversary of Penang’s industrialisation, InvestPenang is hosting a year-long event around 13 focused themes to demonstrate Penang...

by Dr. Beh May Ting

Malaysia’s Heritage Landmarks on International Screens

4 min read

SECONDS INTO THE opening scene of Crazy Rich Asians (2018), eagle-eyed Penangites would have found the fictional Calthorpe Hotel in London to be suspiciously fa...

by Dr. Beh May Ting

Dragon Boat Racing: A Growing Tradition in Penang

3 min read

“LAST 100 METRES! Maintain! Last 50 metres! All out!” the drummer shouts. Like a well-oiled machine, we row hard in synchronised strokes towards the...

by Dr. Beh May Ting