Saluting Our Warriors
7 min read
Peace never comes easy. In Malaysia’s case, the population had to survive the harsh Japanese occupation, the Malayan Emergency and Konfrontasi.Freedom a...
A Snack Well Worth Waiting For
5 min read
It tastes best when cooked with charcoal.Made from a simple base of flour and eggs, ban chien kuih is a popular Hokkien delicacy. It comes with a flavours...
Sitiawan: The Promised Land of the Foochows
10 min read
Sitiawan gets its name from the tragic tale of two elephants, one of which perished after becoming stuck in mud, while the other drowned as it faithfully clung...
Planting Seeds of The Future in Balik Pulau
5 min read
“The 21st century witnessed the beginning of the end of the age of industrialisation, driven by the forces of capitalism,” said Prof Tay Kheng Soo...
The first and forgotten Chief Minister of Penang
6 min read
When it comes to the history of Penang’s modernisation, the late Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu’s name will always appear. His legacy, from the Free Trade Zone...
When Labour Ruled the Council
8 min read
Once upon a time in Penang, there were local council elections, and the underdog Labour Party reigned for many years.
Penang’s Forgotten Protest: The 1967 Hartal
6 min read
The word “hartal” refers to a cessation of work or businesses in protest against a political decision. While the 1947 hartal, organised by the Pan-M...
Local elections as the foundation of democracy Part I: The Athi Nahappan Report revisited
8 min read
Penang in the 1960s. The newly formed Alliance central government had found it increasingly difficult to govern and achieve its version of national unity beca...
The Athi Nahappan Report revisited Part 2: Local elections are part of a larger reform agenda
13 min read
The most cited recommendation of the Athi Nahappan Royal Commission of Enquiry must be the restoration of local government elections. Today, half a century late...
The History of Bukit Mertajam, Part II: From Rural Board to Town Council
6 min read
With the rubber boom of the mid-20th century, Bukit Mertajam develops to become a major town, spurred by the tenacity of the locals, an able council and – interestingly – the triads.
A History of an Icon
6 min read
It stands at the end of Jalan Pangkor. The impressive and imposing building crafted in Victorian fashion has been the site for gatherings and activities organis...
Penang: The Rebel State (Part One)
8 min read
The formation of the Penang Secession Committee in December 1948 is seldom mentioned in history books. Nonetheless, it was this committee that fielded the prima...