Living Of Knowledge, Memories And Things
9 min read
HAVE YOU EVER found anyone without a collection? I find it difficult to do so. Even at home, my two…
Towards Cultural Revival And Historical Recognition: Penang And Its Clan Houses
11 min read
PENANG IS HOME to more than 200 historic clan houses and district associations, which have shaped its cultural landscape for…
The Human Legacy Behind Penang's Heritage Brands
9 min read
Behind Penang’s heritage brands lies more than longevity alone, but a continual act of inheritance, adaptation and trust. From family-run eateries to old trading houses, their survival reflects how identity is preserved not through resisting change, but through refining it without losing coherence.
Keeping The Tourism Industry Inclusive And Sustainable For The Habitat Foundation (THF) & Sustainable Tourism Malaysia (STM)
11 min read
THE CHANGES TO George Town’s core heritage area over the last decade have been significant. Although the “hardware”—the…
In Defense of Slowness: A Journey Through Malaysia's Small Towns
10 min read
Having grown up in a small town, I am drawn to its unhurried rhythm—where time stretches and belonging needs no transaction. Through “Small Towns Malaysia”, we capture this quiet magic: overlooked places that offer a slower way of living, reshaping how we experience time and connection.
Dementia: A Disease An Aging Nation Cannot Ignore
7 min read
Dementia doesn’t diminish a person’s worth. Through supportive spaces like dementia-friendly day care or pop-up cafés, individuals like Mary can regain joy, agency, and connection—reminding us that empathy is the key to living well in ageing societies.
Third Places, Tropical Rules: How The People of Penang Gather
8 min read
The question today is not just where we gather, but how the rise of air-conditioning, gentrification and ageing society is reshaping the “Penang shophouse” spirit into new, sometimes unrecognisable forms.
AI in Cybersecurity: Is It a Blessing or a Curse?
9 min read
The big question, “Is AI in cybersecurity a blessing or a curse?” does not have a simple answer. Like most technologies that fundamentally reshape human behaviour, AI brings transformative benefits, while also creating new areas of risk.
Why I Still Cook When It Is So Easy Not To
11 min read
I often wonder why I subject myself to extensive labour when I could easily eat out. In Penang, food is everywhere—cheap, delicious, convenient, fast. Why spend hours chopping, stirring and cleaning when I could get a perfectly good meal for under RM10 outside?
Reading the Signs: Penang Streets Have A Lot to Say
8 min read
Multilingualism here is banal, part of the fabric that holds daily life together. As Higgins and Coen remind us in Streets, Bedrooms and Patios, “as homo sapiens, we are all the same in terms of genetic structure and cognitive potentiality…
Marking the End of Life: Rituals Across Malaysia
10 min read
Death may arrive suddenly, but it is never endured in isolation. What follows depends on your race, religion and family background.
Nibong Tebal: A Heritage Haven on Penang’s Mainland
12 min read
To the Chinese community, Nibong Tebal is known as 高渊, or ko-ean in the local Teochew dialect, which is both a transliteration of the Kerian River that runs through the town and a reference to the said river’s deep currents.