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.

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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.

Labour force and wage comparisons by numbers

6 min read

The labour force refers to those who, during the survey, are between the ages of 15 and 64 (in completed years at last birthday) and are either employed or unem...

by Penang Monthly

Penang able to handle the heat

7 min read

It is widely known that Penang aspires to become a regional education hub. In addition to Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Mara, the state is...

by Matthew Tan Kiak Hin

Crisis ahead for private higher education – and solutions

13 min read

Graduating students of the Penang Medical College (PMC). Private university enrolment is expected to grow at 5.6% per annum and overtake the public sector in...

by Geoffrey Williams

Geoffrey Williams

Rising global inequality signals coming catastrophe

8 min read

The issue of inequality that was shunted aside amid rapid growth over the last few decades has resurfaced with a vengeance, particularly after the latest global...

by Lim Mah Hui

Lim Mah Hui

Federalism arrested

7 min read

On September 16, 1963 a covenant was forged between the peoples of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore, resulting in the creation of a new sovereign nation cal...

by Zairil Khir Johari

A mother's journey with autism

6 min read

Finding functional space for the autistic person requires patience and dedication… and lots of love.Autism is a condition or disorder that begins in chil...

by Emilia Ismail

City Status Is a Matter of Status – and Expectations

5 min read

What’s in a name? Does George Town smell any less sweet now that the city status encompasses the entire island of Penang?

by Julia Tan

Plan, plan and you will succeed

7 min read

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” From small undertakings to the creation of cities, this holds true and many have found themselves in unfortunate predicaments with few solutions when things are not properly thought out on the drawing board.

by Andrea Filmer

Penang’s Mainland – Seberang Perai by the Numbers

5 min read

The recent Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat by-election and announcement of the Penang Sky Cab cable car system have cast the national spotlight onto Seberang Perai. Let’s take a look at the mainland’s geographical and population demographics.

by Penang Monthly

Art Thefts are Big Business

6 min read

The theft of well-known Indonesian artist Affandi’s Self-Portrait With Pipe (1973), which was sold at the Sotheby’s Hong Kong auction for 5 billion rupiah in May 2014, was solved with the arrest of two suspects in May this year.

by Ooi Kok Chuen

A Muslim Woman Answers the Call to Travel

4 min read

The Haj pilgrimage is familiar to most Malaysians who would have seen photographs of the millions of Muslims who make their way to Mecca to pay homage. But how does it really feel to actually be one among the millions there?

by Carolyn Hong

The Birthday Party – Pinter’s play about power remains relevant

6 min read

Fifty-seven years ago, in late May of 1958, the play The Birthday Party closed after only eight performances of its London debut. It was, of course, a commercial disaster. Worse, it was a critical disaster for its playwright, Harold Pinter.

by Kee Thuan Chye

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