A Honeymoon in Penang
3 min read
We didn't exactly know where to go for our belated honeymoon this year. All I knew is that it had to have a South-East Asian flavour. Numerous options were thro...
September 2026
The September Issue Is Out Now! Penang Monthly’s September issue explores the vibrant world of Penang’s pasar malam, highlighting their food, culture, community, traditions, and evolving role in island life.
Humility Comes from Realising that All Understanding is Biased
3 min read
“The Present” is a strange concept. For one thing, it is really not possible to think of “The Present” without relying on images of &ldq...
When Brick Bridges were First Built to Ayer Itam…
3 min read
It seems very little is written about the history of a key location like Ayer Itam (I take the liberty of using the old spelling here). And since Penang Monthly...
The Enemy that is Ourselves
4 min read
Compilations of articles have in the past decade been a popular format through which political analyses and discussions about Malaysia are publicised. T...
Old Buildings, New Life
5 min read
Buildings of great heritage value are found scattered across the state of Penang. Quite a few of them are restored though, albeit often repurposed for contemporary uses.
A Homecoming of Sorts
3 min read
Recently, I returned to Penang with my spouse to rediscover the island. It had been 40 years since my last visit. Penang was a favourite of my parents; they honeymooned here and, later, brought my sister and me to Batu Ferringhi on family holidays.
The Bookman Who Embraced Penang
7 min read
Penang’s street of harmony – Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling – has a new place of worship, where joss sticks and prayer mats are exchanged for the mesmerising smell of freshly opened books. Most importantly, all ethnic groups are welcome.
Penang News
5 min read
Malaysian woman among Forbes’ top 10 most powerful women in UN
Judy Cheng-Hopkins, assistant secretary-general of the United…
Explore column