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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.

Hello and welcome!

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.
Creative Industries in Numbers

Creative Industries in Numbers

3 min read
Malaysia’s National Creative Industry Policy (DIKN) which draws on DCMS’s definition of creative industries identifies 14 sub-sectors, dividing them into three distinct categories: Multimedia, Cultural Arts and Cultural Heritage.
by Negin Vaghefi
Crafting Ideas That Sell

Crafting Ideas That Sell

6 min read
The prevalence of social media has greatly influenced people’s spending power. They don’t just rely on advertisements any longer, but rather base their purchasing decisions on the information and reviews found online, which is why today copywriters are called writers instead.
by Alexander Fernandez
Handicrafts are More than Just Knick-knacks

Handicrafts are More than Just Knick-knacks

4 min read
The handicraft industry was a thriving value-added service for Penang’s free port, but times have since changed. Previously hampered by slow production speed, the uniqueness of individual handicrafts is now threatened by mass production exacerbated by technological growth spurts.
by Alexander Fernandez &  Lim Sok Swan
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