Are Beauty Pageants Out of Date?
3 min read
THE FIRST BEAUTY PAGEANT, Miss World, was created in 1951 by Eric Morley in the UK. Miss Universe debuted a…
September 2025
This September, we explore Seberang Perai Selatan. Our stories cover Nibong Tebal’s Teochew heritage and sugar legacy, Batu Kawan’s evolution into a township, Penang’s waste challenges at Pulau Burung, the brackish rivers of the south, and the communities that shape the district today.
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The Bombing of Penang: A Ferry Service Worker’s Eyewitness Account of Japanese Air Raids in 1941
9 min read
*Note: Special thanks: This article was completed with the assistance of Muhammad Amirul Naim, Distribution Executive (Administration Unit) at Penang…
Lifestyle and Function: Furniture and Décor Shopping in Penang
4 min read
ONCE IN A WHILE, I like to change up the look of my home—whether it is a small refresh…
Oil and Oppression: Women’s Struggles in the Palm Oil Industry
5 min read
*Names changed to protect identities.
PALM OIL IS the lifeblood of Malaysia’s economy, contributing USD37.4bil in exports in…
History: Mankind's Pursuit of Self-understanding and Self-acceptance
3 min read
IT IS OFTEN SAID—way too often—that “History belongs to the Victor”. There is of course a lot of…
Exploring the Legend of Nakhoda Ragam
3 min read
WHEN I WATCHED Upin & Ipin: Keris Siamang Tunggal at the cinema, I was pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of…
Archaeological Evidence of Penang's Cosmopolitan Islamic Heritage
5 min read
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT archaeological traces that hint at a vibrant historical past in Penang. From the discoveries of the Penang…
Pulau Pinang and Its Malay Beginnings
10 min read
THE ORIGINAL COMMUNITY in Pulau Pinang was indigenous or Malay-Muslim, similar to the case in any state or region on…
Penang Malays: The Founders of Modern Sepak Takraw
7 min read
IN 2018, as I watched the Sepak Takraw League (STL) final between the Penang Black Panthers and the ATM Guardians…
Malay Houses in Penang: Circa 1900
3 min read
*Images from Marcus Langdon Collection.
MALAYS IN PENANG traditionally lived inland or along the coast, depending on their livelihoods. This…
Francis Light School and The Dawn of Merdeka
11 min read
AT THE EASTERN end of Northam Road (now Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah), within the weathered walls of the Old Protestant…
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