A Smellscape of Little India
7 min read
JUST PAST 8.30AM, I am hit by oppressive fumes of exhaust as the 101 pulls away from the “Little…
Penang as a Heritage Linguistic System
5 min read
George Town’s heritage is carried not only in buildings and festivals, but also in the languages woven through its streets and daily exchanges. As urban change reshapes the city, this piece asks what it truly means to preserve a living heritage rooted in multilingual life.
The Deeper Language of Myths and Legends
5 min read
Every city has its whispered tales, restless spirits and forgotten figures that resist verification, and yet, refuse to disappear. Penang—for all its documented histories and colonial records—exists just as vividly in these half-remembered myths and community fables.
The Majie in Penang: A Proud Heritage of Woman Power
8 min read
The majie may not have fitted the image of modernity, but she embodied its deeper transformations. Through financial independence, migration and lifelong labour, she was both breadwinner and caregiver, sustaining families across borders through decades of uncertainty, war and independence.
Educated but Excluded: Persistent Gender Gaps in Malaysia’s Workforce
8 min read
Despite outnumbering their male peers in higher education institutions for over a decade, Malaysian women remain markedly underrepresented in the workforce.
Civilian Memories of WW II
8 min read
Author’s Note: This article has been edited for clarity and readability. It is based on interview sessions with Uncle…
Tewas: What to Do When There is No Light at The End of The Tunnel
4 min read
*Photo credit: JDev Studios
HOW DOES ONE begin to tell the story of a victim of bullying? Empathy may allow…
An Ode to a City in Transition
5 min read
I AM WALKING down Jalan Gurdwara towards Hin Bus Depot—and though I have walked this route many times this…
Readings@Tanjong: Experiential Waves of Stories and Poetry
5 min read
READINGS@TANJONG was established in 2023 as a bimonthly reading event featuring literary works by Penang writers. Produced by Dabble Dabble Jer Collective (DDJ....
George Town Festival: Where Do We Go From Here?
5 min read
IN 2008, the inner city of George Town (along with Melaka) was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site based on its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) in cultu...
Ysabel Loh: Telling Stories About Penang
7 min read
LONDON-BORN AND Penang-raised Ysabel Loh, 24, is an award-winning Malaysian actress with a degree in English and Theatre Studies and an MA in Digital Media Prod...
Two Steps Back for Penang’s Theatre Scene
5 min read
SINCE 2011, the Performing Arts Centre of Penang (penangpac) has fostered shared spaces and built bridges between art practitioners, enthusiasts and members of...