Taking Penang Studies seriously
2 min read
Like most new countries founded after colonialism’s fall, Malaysia lacks good historical studies about itself that are based on solid empirical data. No d...
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.
Statistics
5 min read
IntroductionLegal aid centres in Malaysia are established to assist people who need legal representatives but cannot afford their costs. In this issue, the St...
Penang – Cultural Capital
2 min read
The Unesco’s decision to put Penang jointly with Malacca on its World Heritage List two years ago signifi ed a few fascinating things.For one thing, it...
Macalister Mansion: Contemporary With A Quirky Twist
4 min read
As you enter the driveway of Macalister Mansion, you are greeted by an oversized sculptural bust of Colonel Norman Macalister, the lieutenant-governor of Prince of Wales Isle from 1808 to 1810.
Human Development Indicators
3 min read
Malaysia’s human development index (HDI) has been rising in steady increments from 2010 till 2012. Life expectancy has risen by 0.5 years, whereas gross...
The Back of The Island
3 min read
Literally meaning “the back of the island”, Balik Pulau lies in the southwestern region of Penang Island. As development projects mount in the state, it remains one of the few places left that has managed to retain its sleepy, rustic charm.
Why Indigenous Rights Matter
2 min read
Being proud of where you come from was something unfamiliar to me until I started working with the indigenous rights movement.
Tomoi
2 min read
The ancient art of kickboxing, better known as Muay Thai, is popularly practiced in Kelantan. Here, the locals call it Tomoi. After a 15-year ban by the state's...
Deep in The Oil Palm Estates
2 min read
As the world's largest palm oil exporter, much of Malaysian is now covered with this "golden crop". Seen by the government as a lucrative commodity that will br...
Inside THE ZONE
2 min read
The Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone is home to many of the world's leading tech and electrical and electronics (E&E) firms; a beehive of activity, powered...
Fishy Business
3 min read
Kedah, with its vast paddy fields, may be better known as the rice bowl of Malaysia, but the state houses another industry crucial in feeding Malaysians a stapl...
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