I HAVE YET to meet a Penangite who is not proud of their state (I’ve met some who are borderline obsessed). While pride is tied to identity and status (being a Penangite offers that), it does not always translate to affection. Is Penang truly liveable, let alone loveable? Penang Monthly sits down with Associate Professor TPr Dr. Khoo Suet Leng, from the Development Studies Programme at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), to explore what it takes for a state to serve not just the logistical needs of its people, but also their hearts and sense of belonging.
Rachel Yeoh (RY): Dr. Khoo, tell me about yourself and your relationship with Penang.
Khoo Suet Leng (KSL): I’m a Penangite, born and bred here, except for the three-and-a-half years that I was away for my PhD at the University of Melbourne, Australia. I got a scholarship under the academic staff training scheme from USM and the Ministry of Higher Education. It was fully funded by the government. I came back to Penang in 2010, and I’ve been serving USM ever since. I have completed my seven-year bond, but I like being an academic, so I am still here with USM.
Before my PhD, I was with the corporate sector for close to six years. I was working with an architectural firm doing historic building conservation, project management and research.
I had offers to stay back in Australia, but I came back to serve my own state. I really love Penang. I love my city, and work a lot on city planning. Those who know me know that I actually walk the city. Every weekend—to clock my steps—I do my morning walk in the World Heritage Site. I can mod-estly say lah, I know the site like the back of my palm. My new passion is Penang Hill.
RY: You hike Penang Hill?
KSL: No... I’ll take the train up, do my morning walk there. I need about half an hour to walk to Kopi Hutan, have my breakfast, and then walk another 30 minutes.
RY: George Town changes so fast. Every few weeks there is something new up. I suppose when walking so often at the site, you know exactly what changes.
KSL: Part of the reason is due to my ongoing research. I write about the heritage site, understanding the urban transformations. It’s not static. It’s so fluid, as you say, it is changing as we speak. There’s always something new for me to see, to smell, to hear.
