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...
Penang: The Rebel State (Part Two)
5 min read
The initial impetus for secession was provided by the Penang Chamber of Commerce under the leadership of D.A. Mackay. In November 1948 the Penang Chinese Chambe...
The Dawn of Higher Education in Malaysia
10 min read
According to Alexander Carr-Saunders, the architect of colonial universities, there was “little sympathy with local aspirations for university education&r...
Why Penang YWCA is Such a Landmark
8 min read
The Penang Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) was formed during a time when girls suffered from fewer options, limited access to education and exp...
A History of the Malay Left: Part One
8 min read
Many Malays opposed to colonialism in the pre-War period were considered communists by the British. Despite the failure of their various agendas, their early contributions were broad and lasting.
A History of the Malay Left: Part Two
9 min read
The fall of Singapore on February 15, 1942 saw the release of Ibrahim Yaacob and the resumption of Kesatuan Melayu Muda (KMM)’s activities.1 For the sake...
Let Them Not Crumble
12 min read
Seberang Perai’s decaying mansions symbolise the beauty of a glorious, bygone era. Who were the owners, and why were they built in remote places?
Justices of the Peace: An Institution at Risk of Being Forgotten
11 min read
As a colony of the British, Malaya inherited the tradition of appointing Justices of the Peace (JPs) from among its prominent individuals and community leaders....
The Abdoolcaders: Prominent Sons of Penang
10 min read
When one speaks of the Abdoolcaders, most Malaysians are immediately reminded of the late Eusoffe Abdoolcader. One of the five Supreme Court judges sacked in th...
The Coming and Going of Penang’s Trams
7 min read
From Steam to HorseThe first tramway introduced in Penang was the steam tram operated by one Mr.Gardiner with concessions from the government. Commencing oper...
Batu Gajah: The Forgotten Capital of Kinta
12 min read
Once a small village along the Kinta River, Batu Gajah rose to prominence in 1881 when it became the new river port for the Papan mines. Three years later, it w...