October 2025

This October, Penang Monthly explores death rituals across Malaysia. From Muslim burials to Taoist and Hindu traditions, we reflect on how communities honour the departed with dignity.

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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.

The Deeper Language of Myths and Legends

5 min read

Every city has its whispered tales, restless spirits and forgotten figures that resist verification, and yet, refuse to disappear. Penang—for all its documented histories and colonial records—exists just as vividly in these half-remembered myths and community fables.

by Miriam Devaprasana

Lingo-ing in the Heart of George Town

4 min read

Gen Z, referring to those born between 1997 and 2012, is the first generation for whom the internet and social media are integral, not novel. Their linguistic practices are shaped by digital environments.

by Azar Firdaus Yusof

Translation as Palimpsest: Of Language, Memory and Meaning

5 min read

Translation, at its deepest, is more than carrying words across borders. It is the layering of voices, memories and silences upon the fragile surface of language.

by Pauline Fan

Commonwealth, Shared: A Review of Commonwealth, A Geography

6 min read

Decidedly learned, but confidently striding forward in its individuality, the poems of this compilation are wrought by a detailed, thoughtful mind. Each line break is considered, each full stop punctuated.

by Cian Sacker Ooi

Penang as Martial Arts Centre: Learning Humility and Learning through Humility

4 min read

Today, Loong Fu Pai operates throughout the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne and in Queensland, proudly maintaining a family-like atmosphere, where martial arts is both a path to personal growth and a community anchor.

by Nurul Natasha Amir

Penang: A Strategic Choice for Global Content Operations

5 min read

I sat down with Milena Cooper, the Vice President of Operations for Omdia, who shared that Malaysia has put its mark on the map, evolving from its origins as a business process outsourcing (BPO) hub to become a competitive destination with long-term wage advantages.

by Lee Yong Jin

Birding in Penang Offers a Lifestyle Rich in Experiences

7 min read

The Jordans’ have recorded about 650 lifers out of roughly 830 species found in Malaysia. Some trips have taken them to Borneo, Sri Lanka and Thailand, but most have been just a dawn’s ride away.

by Nurul Natasha Amir

Between the Bookends of Birth and Death

2 min read

We fear death, but when it does appear, we find that we do accept it, simply because there is no choice.

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Marking the End of Life: Rituals Across Malaysia

10 min read

Death may arrive suddenly, but it is never endured in isolation. What follows depends on your race, religion and family background.

by Sheryl Teoh & Teioh Nuan Ning

Realising the Morbid Overtones of Blue and Green in Chinese and Nyonya Culture

5 min read

When mourning, wearing gold or diamonds is considered inauspicious. Instead, the Nyonyas wear pearls to symbolise tears, and jewellery made of silver and jade to represent solemnity and respect.

by Dr. Ong Jin Teong

From Fortress to Frolic: The Tragic Fable of Fort Batu Maung

11 min read

With the fort’s history now tangled in commercial entertainment, its actual story has become increasingly unclear. Using declassified top-secret British and Australian military reports, this article reconstructs what really happened.

by Eugene Quah

What Death Can Teach Children (And Us) about Life

5 min read

Most research around grief is related to human death; however, the death of a pet can trigger the same depth of grief. For many families, a pet’s passing feels no less heartbreaking than losing another human who is close to them.

by Samantha Khoo

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