Charity Starts at Home for the Aged
5 min read
The women were smiling broadly when we walked past the row of beds, excited to have visitors to talk to.“I take a lot of medicine because my leg hurts,&...
Helping Asean Friends in Need
7 min read
Over the years, Malaysia seems to have become more vulnerable to natural disasters, perhaps as a result of climate change. Extreme weather events have become co...
The Word and the World(Part One)
12 min read
Transmitting Culture through TranslationTranslators are the unsung heroes of the literary world. Their products are widely enjoyed and consumed but their names...
Smart Local Governance Brings Services to Remote Townships
4 min read
In today’s world, the Internet is a basic way of communication in urban areas; with a speedy and stable Internet, distance can be overcome. Yet, this is n...
Hot Cafes at Raja Uda
6 min read
To most Penangites, Raja Uda is associatedwith local street food fares, such as tom yum noodles and yong tau foo. But in recent times, a number of quirky cafes...
Taking a Goddess for a Bath
3 min read
At dawn on February 22, the 120-year-old Sri Singhamuga Kaliamman Temple in Teluk Bahang buzzes with activity. It is the day of the Teppa Tiruvizla, the 43rd floating chariot festival.
A Record of Penang’s Love of Popular Music
6 min read
It may be hard to believe, but once upon a time, Malaysia had women with silky, permed hair and short skirts shaking to the rhythms of Western rock ‘n’ roll. For this reason, the existence of popular music in the country has often been dismissed by those concerned with “moral decadence”.
All That Glitters in George Town
10 min read
Sin Taik Wang is a little shop on Pitt Street, where for decades the Hars have made traditional votive paper flowers, known as kim hua in Hokkien. The scene is timeless, but the shop – and George Town’s last remaining kim hua makers – may be gone by the end of the month.
Governing with a Vision: Part Three
14 min read
Facing the Elements and Keeping Penang SafeBy Julia TanZairil Khir Johari.“It’s been a baptism of fire – or water and earth,”...
Covid-19 Exclusives: Lessons to Learn from Penang's 1918 Influenza Pandemic
6 min read
Penang as an entrepot during colonial times was not only a collection and distribution centre for trading commodities but also housed a cosmopolitan migrant pop...
The Complex Task of Being Chinese Peranakan
8 min read
The Baba-Nyonya (or Chinese Peranakan) remains a subject of fascination. Much has been debated about the different nomenclatures – Peranakan, Straits Chinese, Straits-born Chinese and King’s Chinese.
Penang STEM Reignites Student Interest in the Practical Sciences
5 min read
Ask a school kid today what they want to be when they grow up, and the answer might vary vastly from the old answers of “lawyer”, “doctor” or “engineer”. These days, “technopreneur”, “influencer” or “professional gamer” may be the response instead.
