Yachting Awaits Development in Penang
9 min read
When you gaze out over the sea around Penang, there is emptiness, the absence of boats of various shapes and sizes, save for the ubiquitous ferries, the occasio...
November 2025
This November, Penang Monthly explores language, place and memory. As GTLF returns, we highlight Penang’s multilingual streets and the dialects that keep local history alive.
The Sour Fate of Kampung Pokok Asam Jawa
8 min read
As Penang develops, the costs are higher for some than for others. And often, the costs are highest for those who can afford it least.
Alive But Not Well, The State of Penang's SMEs
15 min read
Plenty has been written about Malaysia being locked inside the so called middle income trap. The view is that the country is too expensive to effectively compet...
Some Ways of Increasing Quit Rent Revenue
3 min read
I wish to convey my opinion on how the Penang state government can improve its tax revenue collection for the sake of welfare and development projects. One of t...
The Tiger That Lost Its Roar: A Tale of Malaysia’s Political Economy
8 min read
This book by Tony Pua, an Oxford-trained economist who currently is a Member of Parliament from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), is a collection of articles that were earlier carried largely in his blog.
Asia Rising - Asian Currencies Continue to Rise Against The USD
6 min read
THE UNIMAGINABLE happened when in early August this year the MYR-USD exchange rate dipped below RM3! The good news is that this is happening not only in Malaysi...
Bringing Brilliance To Heritage Buildings
6 min read
BE IT FOR his paintings of heritage buildings in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Malacca or of the diaolou/tulou of China, Chong Hon Fatt has gained legions of adm...
Managing Malaysia’s First EMC Lab
6 min read
This special series looks at local talents behind industrial Penang. From CEOs to strategists, managers to engineers, technicians to operators, and academicians to support services staff, it explores the passion and drive of these individuals.
Sunway Rising
5 min read
Tan Hun BengTAN HUN BENG was 10. He was trying to concentrate in class when the din began, easily drowning out everything the teacher was saying. Outside...
Germany Wins Battle of Penang, 1914
4 min read
Sydney On October 28, 1914, the Germans disguised their ship as an Allied vessel and entered Penang harbour. Before their enemies could respond whe...
Malaysia’s Performance On The MDGs: A Differentiated Picture
5 min read
A roundtable led by Dr. Lin Mui Kiang, the UN Coordination Specialist for Malaysia, was held at the Penang Institute on November 11 to discuss the report and Malaysia’s overall performance.
Don’t wait! Innovate NOW!
5 min read
MANY OF US WILL remember for years to come the moment when we learned the news that Steve Jobs had died.For me, it was somehow strangely sublime; I was atte...
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