May 2026

Discover Penang Monthly’s May issue: explore inclusive, sustainable tourism, cycling adventures in Southeast Asia, inspiring local profiles, and community-driven initiatives. Dive into stories that celebrate Penang’s culture, resilience, and vibrant future!

See Inside Read as Flipbook

Hello and welcome!

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.

Threads of Change: Weaving Waste Into Art

7 min read

Kelsey Merreck Wagner was trained in printmaking and ceramics. Since the very beginning, her art has been deeply tied to environmental concerns close to her heart. It wasn’t until 2017 that she decided she wanted to weave.

by Sheryl Teoh

Dignity, Despair and Decision: The Ethics of Euthanasia

8 min read

In contemporary bioethics, euthanasia is commonly defined as a deliberate intervention undertaken with the intention of ending life to relieve intractable suffering, a definition that may mask the deep human anguish at its centre.

by Nisha Kumaravel

The Many Hands Behind a Muslim’s Final Journey

5 min read

From the home or hospital where death is certified, the mosque where prayers are led, to the burial ground and the gravestone where names are carved into, each pair of hands carries the deceased a little further along their final journey.

by Carolyn Khor

When Goodbye Is Not the End

6 min read

“Amazing Grace”, was written in 1779 by John Newton, who spent the first 20 years of his life faced with hardships after his mother passed away when he was six. Later in life, Newton faced many near-death experiences, and this, he documents in this hymn.

by Hazel Lim

Keeping the Art of Death Offerings Alive

5 min read

When people die, they take nothing with them to the afterlife. Or do they? In the Chinese Taoist and Buddhist beliefs, the deceased do.

by Lim Wan Phing

Behind the Wheel: The Physical and Mental Toll of Driving Express Buses

5 min read

Responses in news articles and social media posts after accidents tend to do the following: Blame the bus companies. Blame the road conditions. Blame the drivers. Where lie the faults?

by Samantha Khoo

Relying on the Proximate and the Immediate to Keep Sane in a Virtual World

4 min read

Narratives are, by their nature, a collective event and a social event; in sum, they are an exercise of power as well, a nexus where different wills and opinions wrestle each other to emerge with as much claim to being true as possible.

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Nibong Tebal: A Heritage Haven on Penang’s Mainland

12 min read

To the Chinese community, Nibong Tebal is known as 高渊, or ko-ean in the local Teochew dialect, which is both a transliteration of the Kerian River that runs through the town and a reference to the said river’s deep currents.

by Teioh Nuan Ning

Once Upon a Time in Batu Kawan

8 min read

It may not feel like it, but Batu Kawan is actually an island. It is separated from Seberang Perai by Sungai Jawi, a wide tidal river, and Sungai Tengah in the south.

by Samantha Khoo

Flashes in the Dark: Learning to Protect Fireflies

5 min read

As part of this year’s World Firefly Day celebration on July 5, researchers, families and firefly enthusiasts had gathered in Bukit Kiara to spot these rare insects. It is also a way for researchers to connect science with public curiosity and encourage community-led biodiversity conservation.

by Liani MK

A Short History of Penang’s Port, Ferries and Wharves

6 min read

BRITISH WRITER AND philosopher, Julian Baggini once wrote, “Looking out over the port of Dover, with the endless stream of…

by Elizabeth Su

Walkability Badly Desired in Batu Kawan

5 min read

Unlike George Town, Batu Kawan was—ostensibly—built “from scratch”. You live in one area, work or study in another, and hang out somewhere else. It sounds great in theory, but unless you have a car—which is not something to expect of students—getting around takes much more energy than expected.

by Nurul Natasha Amir

Total posts

3511

Explore column

Ads

Support us

As Penang Monthly continues to evolve, we aim to deliver better quality reads. At present, our issues are free to be read. But we need your financial support as we endeavour to be the voice of Penang and an inspiring read for the curious Malaysian. Every RM100 contribution from individuals (or RM1,000 from corporations) will be entitled to tax exemption receipt.

Explore column

Feature

Editorial

Cover Story

Statistics

Photo Essay

Covid-19 Exclusives

Penang Profile

Ask Azmi