Soon-Tzu Speechley - Penang Monthly

The High Life: Growing Up on the Peak

7 min read

For many Penangites, the Hill is a place for Sunday morning hikes, a slice of nature close to the city. But some people remember growing up on its slopes and still call the highlands home today.

by Soon-Tzu Speechley

Penang’s heritage wealth goes way beyond the Unesco site

8 min read

In May this year, an elegant bungalow on Jalan Macalister was torn down to make way for a new residential tower. e house, a Category 2-listed building designed...

by Soon-Tzu Speechley

Going Dutch: Lessons in urban amenity from Amsterdam

7 min read

It’s a human theatre conducted against the gracious Golden Age backdrop, where over 7,600 buildings in the city centre alone are listed as “monument...

by Soon-Tzu Speechley

A walk on the Cheapside

8 min read

Blink and you’ll miss it. Locksmiths and hardware shops obscure the entrance to a narrow alley just off the bustling Lebuh Chulia. Taking its name from a...

by Soon-Tzu Speechley

A New Lease of Life for Traditional Puppet Theatre

6 min read

In a lean-to wedged between a temple and a cafe, the audience sits on plastic chairs, waiting. Plucked strings and wooden clappers ring out against the falling...

by Soon-Tzu Speechley

Making Sure Penang’s Taps Keep Flowing

7 min read

We are a thirsty species. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each person requires between 50 litres and 100 litres daily to meet basic health an...

by Soon-Tzu Speechley

A Water Supply System to Boast About

6 min read

When we talk about heritage in Penang, we tend to focus on George Town’s historic monuments. As it happens, the city’s heritage is in its plumbing t...

by Soon-Tzu Speechley

HDB Republic: Housing, Homeownership and Heritage in Singapore

7 min read

From its economy to its education system, Singapore leads in Asia. And one should not forget one very remarkable aspect of the country’s development: its...

by Soon-Tzu Speechley

Will Getting Around Penang Without A Car Become Possible Again?

7 min read

Penang has ambitious public transport plans. It needs to if it is to keep its population on the move. The state’s transport masterplan – which seeks...

by Soon-Tzu Speechley

All That Glitters in George Town

10 min read

Sin Taik Wang is a little shop on Pitt Street, where for decades the Hars have made traditional votive paper flowers, known as kim hua in Hokkien. The scene is timeless, but the shop – and George Town’s last remaining kim hua makers – may be gone by the end of the month.

by Soon-Tzu Speechley