December 2015 - Penang Monthly

Small Acts of Courage to Make the World a Better Place

5 min read

If he was not a household name before September 2, 2014, he should have become that after he, on that day, became the first academician in Malaysian history to be charged under the Sedition Act of 1948.

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

When art espouses politics…

5 min read

University students used to be active in theatre clubs on their campuses. But all that ended during the 1970s. Students were no longer allowed to participate in politics; this limited their creative development but, happily, it led to theatres being started outside the universities.

by Izzuddin Ramli

The High Life: Growing Up on the Peak

7 min read

For many Penangites, the Hill is a place for Sunday morning hikes, a slice of nature close to the city. But some people remember growing up on its slopes and still call the highlands home today.

by Soon-Tzu Speechley

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

Penang as an Entrepreneurial State

12 min read

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng talks about Penang as a high income model for Malaysia at Merton College in Oxford University.

by Lim Guan Eng

Lim Guan Eng

The Renewal of Butterworth Continues

6 min read

Art Festival Urban Xchange brings a motley cast of local and international artists back into town. The goal? Promote awareness through art, and present Seberang Perai with the gift of a giant LED star.

by Marco Ferrarese & Chan Kit Yeng

One Heck of a Hill

12 min read

A bright future awaits Penang Hill, and keeping the balance between old-world charm and new innovations is the key.

by Matthew Tan Kiak Hin

Penang Hill at a Glance

3 min read

Penang Hill is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Penang. Bukit Bendera, or Flagstaff Hill in English, is the most developed peak with an elevation of 735m (2,411ft) above sea level.

by Penang Monthly

Calmness Caught in Epic Colours

7 min read

Syed Thajudeen grew up on both sides of the Bay of Bengal. The stories, the sights and the sounds of the region resonate starkly in his paintings.

by Ooi Kok Chuen

Christmas in the Mountains of Sarawak

3 min read

In the villages of Ba Kelalan in northern Sarawak, Christmas is a time set aside for reflection, and is dedicated to family and community.

by Carolyn Hong

A Hike to the Top via Moongate

5 min read

Every hiker in Penang feels the irresistible urge at some point to climb to the highest point in Penang, and so they embark on one of the many routes leading to the summit of Penang Hill.

by Louise Goss-Custard