Better, Cheaper, Faster – Really?
9 min read
The Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) is the state government’s biggest infrastructural undertaking in recent history. The state first launched a feasib...
Picking a Better, Cheaper, Faster Transport System
6 min read
It was mid-July when the debate over Penang’s public transportation plans reached a new level. After repeated censure for allegedly being all talk and no...
Incubating the Innovative
5 min read
Does Penang have the network of support and structures needed to provide a vibrant startup environment? Does it have a dynamic landscape that stimulates innovat...
Feeling at Home in Public
4 min read
An elderly man enjoying a quiet moment to himself.The public was invited to put their creative stamps on the yellow chairs at Hin Bus Depot duri...
The Ten Best Quotes from Intrepid Women Travellers
2 min read
Timing is everything, and timing was on my side when I happened to be home in Penang when the “Zafigo Talk: Intimate Conversations with Women on Travel...
Brightening the Future of the Blind
4 min read
The white cane has long been a symbol for blind pedestrians. In fact, it wasn’t always white, but the cane as such is the trusty companion of many a visua...
Men Who Ran PFS and Inspired Generations
8 min read
Penang Free School (PFS) celebrates its bicentennial on October 21. This venerable institution has churned out generations of leading Malaysians: “Old F...
A Tranquil Town for Snaps and Seafood
4 min read
There is no doubt about it: Bukit Tambun in Seberang Perai Selatan instils nostalgia in visitors, especially those from the city. Serene and secluded, it exudes...
A Return to Real Democracy
8 min read
The current state of affairs, as mandated by the 1976 Local Government Act, is that local councillors are “to be appointed by the State Authority.1 A majo...
Local Democracy Awaits a Resurrection
7 min read
Penang is a state with a vibrant history of local government. It was the first state on the peninsula to hold local elections, and had one of the most developed...
Technology Transforms the Halal Industry
4 min read
The development of halal-related products and services is being encouraged in Penang. According to Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kassim, the state exco in charge of Is...
Trishaws – Another Sunset Industry
3 min read
Choo Yew Choon produces and repairs trishaws. In fact, he is the fourth generation in his family running the business. He took over the business, Hup Huat, in 1...
