June 2026

Discover Penang Monthly’s June issue: explore the stories behind Penang’s enduring heritage brands, the richness of its multilingual and multicultural heritage, innovative local businesses, community-led initiatives, and the challenges shaping the state’s future. From family enterprises and semiconductor pioneers to traditional food, festivals, education, and environmental sustainability, this issue celebrates Penang’s resilience, identity, and capacity for renewal.

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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.

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

An Air Ferry for Penang

6 min read

With two bridges linking Penang’s island and mainland, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng now looks towards an aerial connection to stitch more tightly the state’s two halves together.

by Andrea Filmer

Building Batu Kawan Brick by Brick

10 min read

The vast and vacant territory of Batu Kawan – formerly a backwater – is now buzzing with activity and anticipation. It lies at the start of the Second Penang Bridge which opened just over a year ago.

by Andrea Filmer

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