February 2026

Our latest issue explores how third places—from bookstores and gardens to KOMTAR—shape community life in Penang, while reflecting on sustainability, inclusion, and the island’s rich history.

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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.

Used Goods From Japan Find Eager Customers in Penang

6 min read

In Japan, household and commercial waste from shops, offices and accommodation facilities are handled differently, and all recyclable items must be recycled or returned to the market as secondhand goods.

by Lim Sok Swan

Musings on Penang, My Humble Cosmopolis

9 min read

SINCE ITS VERY founding, George Town has seen people of different nationalities, ethnicities and religions come and go mainly for trade and economic purposes. H...

by Ooi Geok Ling

Bangsawan: A Cosmopolitan Theatre Birthed in Penang

7 min read

THE ARRIVAL OF the British to Southeast Asia in the 18th century brought significant changes to the political, economic and cultural contours of Malaya. The est...

by Izzuddin Ramli

Seeing the World in a Plate of Mee Goreng

7 min read

MEE GORENG MAMAK is the perfect metaphor for cosmopolitan Penang, the undeniable love child of unfettered multiculturalism. Penang, as an entrepôt, had always b...

by Eugene Quah

Penang2030: Latest Updates

2 min read

MUCH HAS HAPPENED since the launch of the revamped Penang2030 website by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow in November last year to reprioritise the vision’s themes...

by Penang Monthly

Heralds of Dawn in the Heart of the City

4 min read

TEN MINUTES BEFORE the break of dawn, Mr. Radhi arrives at the doorstep of Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh to prep for the day. It is a Friday, so he is garbed in a s...

by Alexander Fernandez & Lokman Redzuan

Kompang Jidor: The Rhythm of the Nusantara

6 min read

ALMOST EVERY WEEK in Kampung Parit Madirono, Pontian, Johor, a group of 12 men congregate in a balai raya or a surau. Donning baju Melayu and samping cloth, the...

by Izzuddin Ramli

When Einstein Cruised into Penang

8 min read

THE CRUISE SHIP, Spectrum of the Seas, a behemoth 18-storeys high and a third of a kilometre long, sailed into Penang’s Swettenham Pier on 2 July 2022 guided by...

by Eugene Quah

USM Research to Make Cars Lighter, Cheaper and Cleaner

3 min read

TAKE A DRIVE and notice how electric vehicles have now become a trend, and miniaturised and compact automobiles inhabit the roads. These vehicles are lighter, h...

by Assoc. Ir. Dr. Ahmad Baharuddin bin Abdullah

Assoc. Ir. Dr. Ahmad Baharuddin bin Abdullah

The Astounding Pitcher Plants of Peninsular Malaysia

6 min read

MALAYSIA IS A wonderland for botanists, naturalists and nature lovers. Blessed with some of the oldest tropical rainforests in the world, the Peninsula itself b...

by Gideon Lim

Why Do Digital Nomads Prefer Penang?

4 min read

Penang is one of the identified DE Rantau hubs, alongside Langkawi, KL and Sabah. Penang Monthly went on nomadlist.com to find out what digital nomads say about their experiences in Penang.

by Sheryl Teoh

Take the Train and Make the Journey Part of the Adventure

6 min read

THE YEAR IS 1885, and Malaya is under British colonial rule. A symphony of steam locomotives resounds from the bowels of Perak state – the land of tin mining. O...

by Samantha Khoo

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