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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.

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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.
Flashes in the Dark: Learning to Protect Fireflies

Flashes in the Dark: Learning to Protect Fireflies

5 min read
As part of this year’s World Firefly Day celebration on July 5, researchers, families and firefly enthusiasts had gathered in Bukit Kiara to spot these rare insects. It is also a way for researchers to connect science with public curiosity and encourage community-led biodiversity conservation.
by Liani MK
Walkability Badly Desired in Batu Kawan

Walkability Badly Desired in Batu Kawan

5 min read
Unlike George Town, Batu Kawan was—ostensibly—built “from scratch”. You live in one area, work or study in another, and hang out somewhere else. It sounds great in theory, but unless you have a car—which is not something to expect of students—getting around takes much more energy than expected.
by Nurul Natasha Amir
Getting to Know Seberang Perai Selatan

Getting to Know Seberang Perai Selatan

7 min read
Home to about 188,000 people, SPS is Penang’s least populous mainland district, and recorded the state’s lowest growth rate in 2024, at just 0.7%. Its population has remained mostly steady over the past three years, shaped by a mix of Bumiputera, Chinese and Indian communities.
by Hajar Ariff
The Majie in Penang: A Proud Heritage of Woman Power

The Majie in Penang: A Proud Heritage of Woman Power

8 min read
The majie may not have fitted the image of modernity, but she embodied its deeper transformations. Through financial independence, migration and lifelong labour, she was both breadwinner and caregiver, sustaining families across borders through decades of uncertainty, war and independence.
by Miriam Devaprasana
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