December 2025

Our December issue examines the flavours, practices and foodways that define Malaysian life, from home kitchens and inherited techniques to the diverse cultural influences that shape Penang’s palate.

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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.

FREPENCA: A History of Innovative Industrial Support Measures

6 min read

PENANG’S industrialisation started when Bayan Lepas, the “rice bowl” of the island, was turned into a Free Industrial Zone (FIZ) in 1972. This first free-trade...

by Rachel Yeoh

The Motorbike – Symbol of Penang and its Economic Vibrancy

7 min read

SEE THE AUNTY puttering on the three-wheeler Honda C90, dragging a cart of triple-mixed iced soya bean, “leong fun” and milo; the beverages slushing...

by Kenneth Ooi

Kenneth Ooi

The George Town Literary Festival Persists through the Pandemic

7 min read

THE INITIAL PLANS for the 2020 George Town Literary Festival (GTLF) were for it to be celebratory – to look back on 10 years of work, while also looking f...

by William Tham

Painting Motion Pictures

6 min read

THE MEANDERING RIVER to the left of the sprawling countryside in the painting of actress Umie Aida references Leonardo da Vinci’s world-famous portrait, t...

by Ooi Kok Chuen

Saving SMEs is Key to Economic Recovery

4 min read

TO FLATTEN THE recession curve, and to save SMEs and preserve jobs, the organisation Research for Social Advancement (REFSA) convened policy experts and industr...

by Noorhasyilah Rosli

Youth Unemployment Expected to Worsen

5 min read

SOME ECONOMISTS BELIEVE that the ongoing economic crisis set off by the Covid-19 pandemic can rival the 1929 Great Depression. In Malaysia the national unemploy...

by Ooi Tze Xiong

Students Make Do in the School of Covid-19

6 min read

MALAYSIA’S EDUCATION SECTOR is embracing e-learning, but this adoption also brings to the fore the nation’s entrenched socioeconomic divide. Online...

by Aliya Abd Rahim & Noorhasyilah Rosli

Aliya Abd Rahim

EVENTS IN FEBRUARY

3 min read

 SHARINGLearn more about the opportunities in traditional businesses and SMEs in the digital age at the Opportunities in Traditional Businesses sharing org...

by Penang Monthly

Connecting Creatives at Open Studios Penang

5 min read

ART IS BACK, Art is Alive!”, was the theme for Open Studio Penang’s (OSP) third edition as it re-engages Penang’s locals and visitors. Together, creatives and a...

by Nicole Chang

Mount Palmer and Pulau Betong: Penang’s Forgotten Southern Flagstaff and Watering Place

7 min read

AS ONE VENTURES further southward of Paya Terubong, the mountain pass brings one onto a winding hill road. This road climbs to a height of 316m, offering breath...

by Eugene Quah

Gedebe: Being a Man in Kelantan

6 min read

ALMOST EVERYONE IN the small town of Kota Bharu knew who Mat Zin Korea was in the 1960s and 70s. He was born and bred in Kampung Padang Bemban, a small farming...

by Izzuddin Ramli

CPO Shuhaily Zain: Beyond Mere Enforcement of the Law (Part One)

9 min read

On 15 December 2022, Penang Monthly’s editor Dato Ooi Kee Beng interviewed Dato’ Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain at his office at the Penang Contingent Police Headquart...

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

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