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.

The Hainanese Influence in Penang’s Cuisine

9 min read

The Hainanese were among the last Chinese language groups to arrive in Malaya, when the other language groups had monopolised most of the trades. They ended up working for the British in their households and kitchens, eventually playing a major role in the local food and beverage industry.

by Dr. Ong Jin Teong

Avoid Accidents with Jellyfish

7 min read

Jellyfish in GeneralJellyfish have roamed the seas for at least 500 million years and possibly as long as 700 million years or more – making them the ol...

by Prof. Dato’ Dr. Aileen Tan

Bar-hopping in Penang Just Got Better

5 min read

“Prosperity” is created with gin, spiced rum, orange, lemon and Orgeat syrup.Magazine 63Dubbed the first “hidden” speakeasy in P...

by Regina Hoo

Understanding Sustainability Does Not Come Naturally

5 min read

Half the world’s population live in urban settlements – 54.5% in 2016 to be exact, according to the UN. This figure is expected to rise to 60% by 20...

by Noorhasyilah Rosli

Eyes Set on Industry 4.0

4 min read

Major changes are coming. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, the integration of physical and digital technologies, is underway. Within the manufacturing industry...

by Timothy Choy

Timothy Choy

Staying Alive in the LGBT World

6 min read

Mika“I’m a female, but I dress like a male. I do not conform to the typical gender binarism, and that’s why I’ve struggled with findin...

by Regina Hoo

Are We Happy with Our Buses or Are We Not?

17 min read

Public transportation in Penang dates back to the 1880s, when the first steam-powered tram, measuring 12.5km, ran from Weld Quay jetty to Air Itam Road, with...

by Ernest Mah Herh Sun

Listen Up, Malaysians! You Are Now Individually the Agents of Change

4 min read

One of the greatest challenges that faces a society coming out of a period of authoritarian rule and bad governance is the need to break away from looking to political initiatives and to politicians as the way to fix all national – and even individual – dilemmas.

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

So What Are You Reading Today?

12 min read

In the age of digital technology, the habit of reading jostles hard with live streaming and aimless scrolling on social media. Surprisingly – or not – Penangites seem to prefer old-school print.

by Rebecca Vega

Feeding Penang

16 min read

From international players to small cottage enterprises, our food manufacturing industry is thriving and getting more diverse.

by Regina Hoo & Noorhasyilah Rosli & Julia Tan

A Bungalow on the Hill

6 min read

Sanatorium. Retreat. Home. The bungalows up on the Hill played different roles throughout Penang’s history. The first structures to appear on top of Penang Hill were almost certainly a flagstaff for signalling the arrival of shipping, together with a small building to house a military detachment.

by Mike Gibby

Malaysia – Where politics must be ethnically inclusive and exclusive at the same time

5 min read

As truly as Malay dominance is an inescapable reality for Malaysia, a central policy direction that is ethnically inclusive is unavoidable for sufficient harmony to be achieved so that its economy can gain the trust of both domestic and international investors, and grow to its full potential.

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

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