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.

Let’s Do What’s Needed To Make Penang Clean And Green

5 min read

Penang's Cleaner Greener Initiative aims to create a sustainable, attractive city. The focus is on preserving open spaces, maintaining parks, and ensuring political will to protect green areas from misuse.

by Datuk Dr. Goh Ban Lee

Saving Tanjung Tokong

9 min read

Kampung Tanjung Tokong, older than George Town, is Penang’s last coastal urban village—its 300-year-old living heritage now under threat from luxury development and a long battle over land rights.

by Wazir Jahan Karim

Wazir Jahan Karim

An Old Chung Ling Boy Who Thought Big

5 min read

Penang-born entrepreneur Loke Gim Tay balances business success with a deep love for Chinese art and culture, championing Penang's heritage while supporting artists across borders.

by Rosalind Chua

Rosalind Chua

The State of The Economy

10 min read

The 2011 Budget signals troubling reliance on private growth. Without economic decentralisation and public sector expansion, Malaysia risks stalling in the middle-income trap.

by Chan Huan Chiang

Chan Huan Chiang

SERI seeks to offer policy alternatives

6 min read

There are think tanks, and there are think tanks. Penang’s own think tank, the Socio-Economic and Environmental Research Institute (SERI), is seeking to differentiate itself by playing a role as not just the state’s preeminent think tank, but also as “devil’s advocate”.

by Regina William

Regina William

Tighter cooperation between Pakatan Rakyat-run states

6 min read

The mass media tends to drown out the steady progress of what the Pakatan Rakyat state governments are actually doing on a daily basis. Their learning curve on gaining power at state level was no doubt steep, but where policies are concerned, their achievements have been impressive.

by Penang Monthly

A-G’s report on Penang’s financial status: Positive feedback with some concerns

4 min read

Despite the positive response from the Auditor-General regarding Penang’s financial statement and financial management, it is nevertheless important to understand to what extent the current government spends its resources.

by Ong Wooi Leng

Raising Komtar

5 min read

The records show that the Komplex Tun Abdul Razak's (Komtar) tower at its completion in 1985 was the tallest building in Asia - and Malaysia of course.

by Rosalind Chua

Rosalind Chua

Lim Chong Eu Revisited

16 min read

Those who worked with and knew Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu share their recollections of Penang's former Chief Minister.

by Jeffrey Hardy Quah & Rosalind Chua

Rosalind Chua

Penang's news

3 min read

A snapshot of everything happening in Penang now!

by Penang Monthly

Turning Points: Ups and downs of Penang’s economy

10 min read

Today, there is a wide variety of methods used by different agencies to detect and announce dates when the economy makes a regime change from the peak and going into recession, and from the trough to begin another period of expansion.

by Ong Wooi Leng

Making future artists better

9 min read

Throw a stone and you would hit a few Datuks. The joke may be trite, but for artists, “Datukships” are exceptions to the rule. Still, Penang is one state that has conferred the coveted award on six of its visual artists, and all deservingly so.

by Ooi Kok Chuen

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