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.

The Intriguing Invention of “Zero” and “One”

3 min read

ZEROES AND ONES fill our world today. The binary code that powers our computers could of course have been signified by other, even arbitrary, symbols, but they...

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Urban Farming: A Sane Way to Live

5 min read

AFTER SUFFERING THE erosive effects of city life, some professionals have been choosing to leave their careers behind for the rewarding comfort of urban farming...

by Marcus Dip Silas

Re-learning the Importance and Possibility of Natural Air Ventilation during Covid

4 min read

THE PENANG HOSPITAL1 began life as a double-storey, colonnaded brick-and-timbre building. As was the norm for most bungalows in Penang at the time, the building...

by Regina Hoo

Walk Zone: Pulau Tikus - Penang's Most Liveable District?

6 min read

While George Town was illustriously named after King George III (1738-1820) of Great Britain, Pulau Tikus more enticingly means Mouse Island.

by Lim Sok Swan

Events

4 min read

VIRTUAL TALKCalling all new mummies! Here’s a chance to understand your babies better with the segment Decoding Your Baby's Body Language by The Asian Woman. Le...

by Penang Monthly

The British-Siamese Boundary Stone: A Momentous Relic in Seberang Perai

4 min read

IN THE SMALL town of Pinang Tunggal towards the northeast corner of Seberang Perai Utara district stands the over-a-century-old British-Siamese Boundary Stone....

by Tan Lii Inn

Budding Artists of Penang, Stifled and Side-tracked

5 min read

“HERE WE ARE, just around the corner.” We park next to an idyllic stream in rural Balik Pulau, and walk through what seems to be a secret hideaway into an orcha...

by Paul Ooi

The Martial Art of Wing Chun Finds a Home in Penang

4 min read

WHEN IP MAN – the first of a tetralogy starring Hong Kong actor Donnie Yen – debuted in cinemas late 2008, it became an instant blockbuster. The movie tells the...

by Enzo Sim

A Ready Ear Offers Hope, Solace and Relief to Those in Despair

5 min read

BETWEEN JANUARY AND May this year, The Malaysian Reserve received reports of 53 suicide and 19 attempted suicide cases from Penang. Within the same timeframe, s...

by Ernest Mah Herh Sun

Covid-19 Vaccines in Numbers

4 min read

AS OF AUGUST 31, Malaysia’s Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) recorded 71.9% of the population in vaccine registrations. However, if people under 18 years...

by Yeong Pey Jung

As Online Learning Goes Mainstream, We Will Need Less Physical School Spaces

2 min read

THE SIJIL PELAJARAN Malaysia (SPM) results for the 2020 school year turned out to be better than, or at least comparable to those of previous years. This is a n...

by Wong Teik Aun

How are House Prices in Penang Performing during the Pandemic?

5 min read

MALAYSIA’S PROPERTY MARKET is expected to continue to be sluggish throughout 2021. As Covid-19 cases continue to hit record-breaking highs, many potential homeb...

by Ong Wooi Leng

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