Lest We Forget - Penang Monthly

A Sea of a Thousand Fires: The Visit of La Bonite to Penang

10 min read

Vaillant looked forward to visiting Penang, partly for strategic rea-sons. The island, he noted, “has played, as is known, an important role in the late wars”, referring to the Napoleonic campaigns in which he had served.

by Eugene Quah

From Bukit Meriam to Bukit Penjara: Retracing the Landscape of Ancient Kedah

10 min read

When the island of Srai (ไทร)—meaning “banyan tree” in Siamese—had just become attached to the mainland, forming what we now know as Mount Jerai, the king of this ancient land of Kedah embarked on a coastal expedition.

by Eugene Quah & Rexy Prakash Chacko

The Bougainvillea’s Odyssey: A Tale of Science and Romance Across the Seas

7 min read

The bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra) is a common ornamental shrub found throughout Malaysia. Though native to the Americas, it has taken root across the tropics, including in every state in Malaysia, thanks to its hardy nature.

by Eugene Quah

From Fortress to Frolic: The Tragic Fable of Fort Batu Maung

11 min read

With the fort’s history now tangled in commercial entertainment, its actual story has become increasingly unclear. Using declassified top-secret British and Australian military reports, this article reconstructs what really happened.

by Eugene Quah

Remembering the Pacific War in Sabah

7 min read

On 17 January 1942, the Japanese navy invaded and captured the city of Sandakan. With the loss of the capital, North Borneo was surrendered, and was occupied by the Japanese for 3 years and 8 months.

by Joan Liao

Colonial Penang’s Southern Frontier: Tin, Treaties and the Pangkor Connection

11 min read

THE NAME PANGKOR was mentioned as far back as 1511 by Sulaymān al-Mahrī in his treatise al-Minhāj al-Fākhir fī ʿIlm…

by Eugene Quah

The Bombing of Penang: A Ferry Service Worker’s Eyewitness Account of Japanese Air Raids in 1941

9 min read

*Note: Special thanks: This article was completed with the assistance of Muhammad Amirul Naim, Distribution Executive (Administration Unit) at Penang…

by Abdul Aziz Bin Zuber

Civilian Memories of WW II

8 min read

Author’s Note: This article has been edited for clarity and readability. It is based on interview sessions with Uncle…

by Miriam Devaprasana

Mariophile: The Early Days of the Estate and Country Retreat of the College General

11 min read

THE COLLEGE GENERAL, off Jalan Cengal, is a venerable Catholic seminary emphasising a prayerful and secluded life for its students—…

by Eugene Quah

Bencoolen: The Forgotten British Outpost

10 min read

IN THE HEART of Singapore’s bustling Central Business District, Bencoolen Street hums with activity. Locals and tourists alike traverse…

by Eugene Quah

Local History Matters Most Immediately

7 min read

IN THE GRAND theatre of social media—where cat videos reign supreme and discussions about anything often devolve into spirited…

by Eugene Quah

The Story of Early Juru

9 min read

IN LATE APRIL 1845, James Richardson Logan, a Penang lawyer and ethnologist, visited Bukit Tengah and Juru. He noted that land bounded by the Prai and Juru rive...

by Eugene Quah