Deepening the Here and the Now
3 min read
IN THE FEEDBACK which has come to my attention to Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow's Penang2030, which he launched on August 29, 2018, just three months afte...
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.
Events
4 min read
VIRTUAL CAREER FAIRConnect with employers and learn about the range of job opportunities available at the Virtual Career Fair - Explore, Connect and Get Hired....
Campbell Street - Where the Old Shine is Just a Rub Away
12 min read
In 1989, the municipal council of Penang in conjunction with Pulau Pinang magazine organised a “Memory Of Our Streets” essay competition.
A Red-light District Worthy of a Vibrant Port
4 min read
Campbell Street was also known by its motley of vernacular names. The Chinese called it 新街, i.e. sin kay in Hokkien or san kai in Cantonese, meaning “new street”, in relation to the older thoroughfare, Chulia Street, that runs parallel to it.
Preschoolers May Suffer Permanent Damage from the Pandemic
4 min read
COVID-19 HAS PERFORMED quite a time heist on everyone, and on preschoolers especially. Schools were once again forced to close last May as cases steadily rose.
A Time of Opportunity that Penang Must Not Miss
4 min read
The pandemic and the trade war present Penang with great opportunities as well as dangers. Penang is well positioned to seize the opportunities by tapping into disrupted supply chains that were closed to us previously. However, time is of the essence; this window of opportunity is closing fast.
Working in Silos Becomes the Norm When Merit Systems Are Shunned
3 min read
FORMER INTERNATIONAL Trade and Industry minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz entertained Malaysia with her comment that the idea that Malaysians like working in silos was not really accurate since silos are places huge enough for significant things to happen.
A Street for Cars or for Walking Shoppers?
5 min read
LEBUH CAMPBELL WAS where early Cantonese immigrants to the Island tended to gather, and it had a reputation as a red-light district. After World War II and from the 1950s till the 1970s, the area was given a facelift, and soon flourished as a shopping centre.
A Jewel among Jewellers
5 min read
Nam Loong Jewellers was not always known for its jewelleries. In fact, it first started as an import business at 5, Campbell Street, established in 1922 by the Thong cousins who had emigrated from Canton, China.
Drive-thru for Yummy Snacks at Cintra
3 min read
A CAR ROLLS to a stop in front of a push cart along Lebuh Cintra. The driver places his order, “Two ham chim peng and two pak tong kou, please.” It’s teatime and nothing quite hits the spot like a traditional street snack, straight out of the wok.
One Observes a Lot When Exploring On Foot
2 min read
In the morning, I pick up vegetables from a stall opposite the Campbell Street Market. I get dried oysters from Kwong Tuck to make porridge.
Youthful Excitement and Limited Resources Propelled Penang’s 1970s’ Music Scene
7 min read
POPULAR MUSIC IN the 1970s was a time of many firsts which united Malaysians of diverse races. Legacy musicians appeared who paved the way for new talents.
Explore column