July 2026

Discover Penang’s living heritage in this month’s issue: from the revival of historic clan houses and district associations to new voices in the arts, community, and cultural preservation. Explore how tradition meets modernity as Penang’s diverse communities adapt, innovate, and celebrate their unique identity.

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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.

Household Debt in Malaysia – Is It Sustainable?

7 min read

ONE IMPORTANT LESSON from the financial crisis of 2007–2009 is that economic stability and financial fragility are not only influenced by consumer prices and wage inflation. Equally if not more important are asset price inflation, financial/corporate leverage and household leverage.

by Lim Mah Hui

Lim Mah Hui

UTARA –Still Zealous After All These Years

7 min read

IT HAS NO MANIFESTO, no annual subscriptions (initially RM400 fee with 15% from the proceeds of sales of works going to the group), no fixed meeting place or fi...

by Ooi Kok Chuen

Pricing The Homemaker

5 min read

TWO-THIRDS OF economic wealth is generated by human capital; and the catalyst in this staggering equation lies in the process of parenting. More interesting, a clear divide exists in terms of the expectations of fatherly and motherly duties.

by Poh Heem Heem

Poh Heem Heem

Malay Journalism Before The War

5 min read

Zainal-Abidin B. Ahmad (1895–1973) a.k.a Za’ba was a writer and teacher. A native of Negeri Sembilan, he was the first Malay to pass the Senior Camb...

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

The Face of A Movement

3 min read

AMONG ALL THE photographs taken during the Bersih 2.0 rally, one stands out. In it, a petite grey-haired lady clad in a yellow T-shirt is seen standing in front of Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) troops who have just drenched her with chemical laced water.

by Chung Hosanna

Chung Hosanna

Bersih 2.0 A Desire For Democracy

9 min read

THOESE WHO PARTICIPATED IN, or followed developments leading to the gathering organised by Bersih 2.0 on July 9, 2011 must have come out of it with mixed feelings.

by Toh Kin Woon

Toh Kin Woon

Keep Solid Waste Local

6 min read

ON A MALAYSIAN online directory listing, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd’s description of itself reads: “We’ve been entrusted by the Government to manage the privatisation of the national solid waste management system for Selangor, Wilayah Persekutuan and Pahang.”

by Tricia Yeoh

Addressing The Housing Issue

6 min read

Ong Ee LynnDEMAND FOR HIGH-END property in Penang has been robust and finding new houses or apartments on the island in the RM250,000–RM350,000 rang...

by Rosalind Chua

Rosalind Chua

Clarifying The Role of Politicians in Development Control

5 min read

RECENTLY, residents of Taman Desaria on Penang Island went to the press to complain that the developer of a housing project that was under appeal in the Appeals Board had begun clearing the land and paving an access road to the site (New Straits Times, July 15, 2011; Sunday Star, July 17, 2011).

by Datuk Dr. Goh Ban Lee

A Vertical Road to George Town

7 min read

Akram Khan: When you finally create something, the history of how it was made becomes vague and is lost. You forget the origins of the ideas, when they started as fragments.

by Rosalind Chua

Rosalind Chua

A Pressman’s Progress

5 min read

THE STRAITS ECHO WAS Tan Thean Peng’s first employer. He joined as a reporter in 1978 after finishing his A-levels at St Xavier’s Institution only t...

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Making A City Liveable The Secret Is Economic Growth From Below

17 min read

According to the Economic Intelligence Unit of The Economist, Vancouver topped the World’s Most Livable Cities list in 2011 for the second consecutive year based on five main criteria: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

by Chan Huan Chiang

Chan Huan Chiang

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