Dr. Beh May Ting - Penang Monthly

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

Malaysia’s education system faces a dual challenge: the issue of school dropouts on the one hand, and an overly exam-oriented mindset among students on the other. These two phenomena, though seemingly distinct, stem from the same cause: an education system that places undue emphasis on examinations.

by Dr. Beh May Ting

Innovations in Traditional Food Manufacturing

4 min read

In Chinese families, a bowl of hot herbal soup and a saucer of premium soy sauce are an almost-daily tableau on the dining table. Despite being traditional foods, manufacturing them has seen many rounds of innovation through the years, involving cutting-edge technologies.

by Dr. Beh May Ting

Uniting Communities Through Sports and Traditions

2 min read

The organisation of groups of people with similar goals have long been a key aspect in human interaction and social functions – it is also what sports clubs are founded upon.

by Dr. Beh May Ting

A Caffeinated Career Journey

4 min read

The café culture in Penang, which took off in the late 2000s has grown in tandem with the global coffee industry. Baristas are one of its major pushers, being intermediaries between the coffee industry and consumers of the café culture.

by Dr. Beh May Ting

What’s in a Kampung Name?

6 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 from plantation crops, or the hills and rivers in their immediate environs?

by Dr. Beh May Ting

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

5 min read

Many of these artisanal cafés in George Town are strategically nestled in heritage shophouses with original timber beams, creaking floors and original colonial-era verandahs pleasingly contrasting with sleek coffee machines and other sophisticated appliances.

by Dr. Beh May Ting

Batik in Penang—Surviving on Different Fronts

5 min read

There are three types of batik businesses in Penang today: traditional traders, artisanal proprietors and social media entrepreneurs. These batik proprietors differ from each other in how they value batik, their business model as well as the challenges they face from market demands today.

by Dr. Beh May Ting

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

7 min read

Dr Beh May Ting of Penang Institute spoke to Dato’ Seri Lee Kah Choon, Special Investment Advisor to the Chief Minister of Penang and Dato’ Loo Lee Lian, Chief Executive Officer of InvestPenang, to discuss the State’s investment trends and the economic outlook for Penang in the coming years.

by Dr. Beh May Ting

Malaysia’s Heritage Landmarks on International Screens

4 min read

For the last two decades, Malaysia as location has attracted a string of international filmmakers, with its nature-scapes and characteristic melting pot of cultures, and landmarks that are a delightful mix of the traditional and the modern.

by Dr. Beh May Ting

Dragon Boat Racing: A Growing Tradition in Penang

3 min read

The season for dragon boat races is once again upon us, a cherished bi-annual tradition in Penang that gathers local competitors at the Teluk Bahang Dam in June. But it is in December that the event is elevated to an even grander scale.

by Dr. Beh May Ting