December 2025

Our December issue examines the flavours, practices and foodways that define Malaysian life, from home kitchens and inherited techniques to the diverse cultural influences that shape Penang’s palate.

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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.

What ’s The Deal When Government Gives Away Money?

5 min read

Speaking as a layman, I’m aghast that the government is giving out so much money these days, as if there’re lots more where it’s coming from...

by Penang Monthly

Encore, Penang World Music Festival

5 min read

It wasn’t so long ago that Penang played host to some of the best international acts that the music world had to offer. This was at the Penang World Music...

by Penang Monthly

The Thought Bazaar

3 min read

Carbon dioxide rockets shot up from makeshift launching pads, and their plastic bottle cargo parachuted down briskly to the ground. Every zipping projectile t...

by Penang Monthly

PSC Pillars Talk Science

5 min read

Datuk Wong Siew HaiPillar leader for the Penang Technology Centre Chairman, Malaysian American Electronics IndustryTell us a little more about the proposed...

by Penang Monthly

Penang Sets Its Sights On Science

4 min read

It’s been 40 years since multinational corporations (MNCs) first set up factories in Penang. The technological innovations involved have undergone seismic...

by Penang Monthly

The Common Good in Penang's Progress

17 min read

Is development good or bad?Private development, we are seeing with increased intensity in Penang, is actually a deal made between private business and its cus...

by Penang Monthly

An Overview of Women’s Organisations in Penang

6 min read

In an undeniably patriarchal world order, women’s organisations have not only filled the gaps in civil society to address the unmet needs of women, but have also been a powerful galvanising force in pushing forward the march towards equality for all.

by Marie Tan Kiak Li

Marie Tan Kiak Li

Honest Memoirs From An Extraordinary Lady

5 min read

This much-awaited volume lives up to all reasonable expectations and should be read by anyone – historian, lawyer or layman – interested in Penang,...

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Hooking The Young on Heritage

9 min read

George Town’s heritage built environment played a significant role in its listing as a Unesco World Heritage Site and the city boasts the largest concentr...

by Suzy Sulaiman

Suzy Sulaiman

Of Women Artists and Their Art

7 min read

In this era of the Super Woman, the purportedly weaker sex has to juggle her duties as wife, mother, daughter-in-law, daughter, sister, career woman or home/ fa...

by Ooi Kok Chuen

Should Men Still Hold The Door Open for Women?

3 min read

Opening the door for a woman isn't about thinking she can’t do it herself; it is about respecting her enough to go the extra mile for her.

by Chung Hosanna

Chung Hosanna

Of Menstrual Blood and Chicken Rice

4 min read

The potency of feminism is excitingly enormous because women’s social roles have been supporting ones for so long that perspectives coming from that half of humanity tend to be extremely challenging for men and their status quo. Never is this truer than when the female body is involved.

by Gabija Grusaite

Gabija Grusaite

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