Penang Monthly

Penang Monthly, by Penang Institute, is the voice of Penang, offering insights on its people, politics, economy, culture, and society, with a focus on local and national issues for curious Malaysians.

504 posts

Transforming transport the earlier the better

7 min read

Transport in Penang (and all around the world for that matter) relies on non-renewable sources of energy. Think 20 cars with one person in each vehicle, versu...

by Penang Monthly

Are we ready to become an "advanced nation"?

5 min read

As we begin the new year and realise that we are only six years away from the magical 2020 when – as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has promise...

by Penang Monthly

Letting Penang nurture creativity

4 min read

Let’s go back to your roots as a photographer. How do you envision photography contributing to society? Photography has been doing that for a long time, s...

by Penang Monthly

New housing policies to help Penangites cope

8 min read

The Penang state government has introduced a range of housing policy interventions which came into force on February 1, 2014. These are intended to protect exis...

by Penang Monthly

PLAC – where the poor can seek justice

13 min read

The first time I met Teh Chin Lee, I noted that he wasn’t like most clients who typically marched into the office. He didn’t have the kind of swagge...

by Penang Monthly

Up close with Lat

6 min read

"We shouldn’t use the word 'kampung' as a term that reflects backwardness – we are proud kampung people! We were born in the kampung, but we can str...

by Penang Monthly

Resurrecting Sungai Pinang

4 min read

Penangites are a lucky lot. They have hills, beaches and rivers within a short travelling distance from residential areas. And the early settlers of the island...

by Penang Monthly

People before profit

4 min read

Is it possible to turn a profit while running a business focused on people? To marry profit and passion? Can you truly have it all? Sasibai Kimis thinks it is p...

by Penang Monthly

Between light and darkness

7 min read

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (feature film, 2010).Throughout the interview, Apichatpong Weerasethakul is soft-spoken and down to earth; I a...

by Penang Monthly

Malaysia’s Energy Generation and Usage

5 min read

Malaysia’s national grid operates as such: customers are connected with power from hydroelectric and thermal plants through a network system made up of transmission lines, substations and distribution lines.

by Penang Monthly

East Malaysia in numbers

3 min read

With consciousness of East Malaysia being heightened, especially post GE-13, we explore its demographics, along with its economic contribution and literacy rate...

by Penang Monthly

Around the region

6 min read

Around the region1The long simmering territorial dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands has led to increasingly nationalistic and aggressive stances in bot...

by Penang Monthly