Eugene Quah

is an independent researcher and writer who is working on a book tentatively called “Illustrated Guide to the North Coast of Penang”. He rediscovered the joys of writing after moving back to Penang.

39 posts

The Bougainvillea’s Odyssey: A Tale of Science and Romance Across the Seas

7 min read

The bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra) is a common ornamental shrub found throughout Malaysia. Though native to the Americas, it has taken root across the tropics, including in every state in Malaysia, thanks to its hardy nature.

by Eugene Quah

From Fortress to Frolic: The Tragic Fable of Fort Batu Maung

11 min read

With the fort’s history now tangled in commercial entertainment, its actual story has become increasingly unclear. Using declassified top-secret British and Australian military reports, this article reconstructs what really happened.

by Eugene Quah

Keeping Penang’s Story Real in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

11 min read

This article discusses the ethical implications of using AI-enhanced and AI-generated imagery in historical storytelling, particularly on social media.

by Eugene Quah

Bukit Mertajam: The Mount That Decides Borders

12 min read

“KEEP YOUR PISTOL cocked and ready, tuan, when you see me uncover my kris, as we pass through the blukar…

by Eugene Quah

Collectibles in The Hills

9 min read

THERE IS SOMETHING deeply satisfying about crossing off an item that has lingered far too long on your to-do list.…

by Eugene Quah & Rexy Prakash Chacko

Colonial Penang’s Southern Frontier: Tin, Treaties and the Pangkor Connection

11 min read

THE NAME PANGKOR was mentioned as far back as 1511 by Sulaymān al-Mahrī in his treatise al-Minhāj al-Fākhir fī ʿIlm…

by Eugene Quah

Francis Light School and The Dawn of Merdeka

11 min read

AT THE EASTERN end of Northam Road (now Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah), within the weathered walls of the Old Protestant…

by Eugene Quah

Penang Climbs Up the Semiconductor Value Chain

7 min read

ACCORDING TO THE Financial Times, Malaysia (mostly Penang) supplies 20% of the semiconductor products imported by the US as of…

by Eugene Quah

Gunung Jerai: The Prominent Peak on The North

7 min read

ALONG JALAN TANJUNG BUNGAH, part of Penang’s scenic north coast road leading to the tourist belt of Batu Ferringhi,…

by Eugene Quah

Mariophile: The Early Days of the Estate and Country Retreat of the College General

11 min read

THE COLLEGE GENERAL, off Jalan Cengal, is a venerable Catholic seminary emphasising a prayerful and secluded life for its students—…

by Eugene Quah

Bencoolen: The Forgotten British Outpost

10 min read

IN THE HEART of Singapore’s bustling Central Business District, Bencoolen Street hums with activity. Locals and tourists alike traverse…

by Eugene Quah

Penang's Magazines Preserve The Past and Shape the Future

8 min read

In early 1989, Ganesh Kolandaveloo, a Form 5 student at St. Xavier’s Institution, would visit his grand-uncle’s newsstand on Prangin Road after school.

by Eugene Quah