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September 2026

The September Issue Is Out Now! Penang Monthly’s September issue explores the vibrant world of Penang’s pasar malam, highlighting their food, culture, community, traditions, and evolving role in island life.
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A publication of Penang Institute, Penang Monthly is the voice of Penang - an inspiring read for the curious Malaysian, featuring stories about the people, ideas, and issues shaping the state's well-being. Sign up for a free account to enjoy unlimited access to all our articles.
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An Eminent Malaysian Academic Abroad
June 2010 Penang Profile

An Eminent Malaysian Academic Abroad

10 min read
Professor Aihwa Ong is an internationally respected anthropologist with at least 10 books to her name. Born in Penang where she had her entire pre-tertiary education, she is now a Professor of Socio-Cultural Anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley, the United States.
by Datuk Dr. Goh Ban Lee
Datuk Dr. Goh Ban Lee
Nation In A Dilemma
June 2010 Cover Story

Nation In A Dilemma

15 min read
The mere mention of migrant workers is usually greeted with a sneer, and when not, it is because of indifference. Foreign workers are often seen as a wage depressant, and accused of “taking” jobs away from locals.
by Ivy Kwek
Ivy Kwek
Voter registration
June 2010 Just A Minute

Voter registration

2 min read
On May 1, 2010, a voter registration drive was held throughout Penang, with the aim of encouraging more Penangites to get involved in the parliamentary process.
by Penang Monthly
Penang Monthly
Democratising women
July 2010 States Of Reform

Democratising women

6 min read
“ Change” was the rallying cry in the last general elections which managed to excite voters throughout Northern Peninsular Malaysia. One of the basic changes needed, and often more implied than expressed, is the betterment of the economic, social, legal and political situation of Malaysian women.
by Cecilia Ng
Cecilia Ng
Finding Penang’s niche
July 2010 Feature

Finding Penang’s niche

2 min read
From left to right:Professor Dr p. Ramasamy, Penang Deputy Chief Minister ii; Lim Guan Eng, Penang Chief Minister; Liew Chin Tong, seri executive director and...
by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng &  Datuk Dr. Goh Ban Lee
Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng Datuk Dr. Goh Ban Lee
Cleaner, greener Penang
July 2010 Feature

Cleaner, greener Penang

2 min read
Will Penangites finally learn to use the mysterious orange object? “It’s not easy being green,” sang Kermit the Frog, it hasn’t been for Penang either, and the state once dubbed the “rubbish bin of the Orient” by a former prime minister has struggled to live down this label.
by Rosalind Chua
Rosalind Chua
A Personal Penang Treasure That Can Be Revived
July 2010 Talk-talk Only

A Personal Penang Treasure That Can Be Revived

7 min read
Kee Thuan Chye returns in his mind to the village his great-great-granddad built. Sungai Bakap, after being bypassed by development, has lost much of its past glory. But the Kee family home is still there, reeking of history and other fragrances, waiting for another turn in its fortunes.
by Kee Thuan Chye
Kee Thuan Chye
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