May 2026 - Penang Monthly (Page 2)

From The High Tower To The Humble Truck Ilham Gallery’s Decade of Institutional Innovation, 2015—2025

5 min read

Over the past decade, ILHAM Gallery has redefined the Malaysian art museum through research-led curating, historical recovery and experimental outreach. Balancing private support with public purpose, it has become a civic space where art is not only displayed, but critically engaged and shared.

by Ivan Gabriel

Where Are You From? Letter by Laila Fanebust

2 min read

Laila Fanebust reflects on being repeatedly asked “Where are you from?” in George Town, exploring identity, belonging, and how she is perceived as an outsider. Through her time in Penang and the George Town Literary Festival, she considers how place and difference shape everyday interactions.

by Laila Fanebust

Laila Fanebust

Fish Ladders: Helping Fish Cross Human-Made Barriers

4 min read

As dams reshape Malaysia’s rivers, fish ladders emerge as quiet interventions—restoring pathways long severed. Balancing infrastructure with ecology, they offer a measured way forward, where development need not come at the expense of life moving beneath the surface.

by Dr. Chee Su Yin

Sustainable Tourism In Numbers

4 min read

Penang’s tourism rebound is powering economic growth, from surging visitor numbers to RM1.91bil in MICE impact—but it also strains liveability in key hotspots. As sustainability efforts expand, the challenge is clear: can growth, community well-being and environmental care truly align?

by Hajar Ariff

Beyond Numbers, Towards Meaning: Shifting To Developmental Tourism For Penang

5 min read

DRIVING ALONG THE old town’s narrow arteries, one quickly encounters the layered rhythms—and the resulting challenges—of George…

by Dr. Beh May Ting

ZANG TOI: The Malaysian Who Dresses The Global Elite

9 min read

From Kelantan to New York, Zang Toi’s journey traces a couture legacy shaped by memory, ambition and reinvention. Decades on, his designs remain a dialogue between worlds—where Malaysian heritage quietly endures beneath the brilliance of the global runway.

by Rachel Yeoh