Penang Profile - Penang Monthly

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

Tan Sooi Beng: The Revivalist of Dying Cultural Arts in Penang

10 min read

Penang Monthly sits down to chat with her after she recently received the 20th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards (BCAA) Lifetime Achievement Award as recognition of her outstanding contributions to dance, music, theatre and musical theatre.

by Rachel Yeoh

Zarizana Abdul Aziz: Uncovering Gender Biases and Highlighting Women Rights

9 min read

A LEADING EXPERT in law, gender and human rights issues, Zarizana Abdul Aziz is affiliated with the Due Diligence Project,…

by Iylia De Silva

PBAPP Takes on the Difficult Task of Securing Water for the Future

10 min read

RECENT WATER SUPPLY disruptions in Penang have left locals shaken, and questions about water security have become the talk of…

by Rachel Yeoh

Joachim Bergström: On Using Universal Values to Drive Diplomacy

12 min read

As his tenure comes to an end, Penang Monthly sits down with Joachim Bergström to talk about his team’s efforts in introducing these universal values to the country, and how these can strengthen the bilateral relationship between Sweden and Malaysia.

by Sheryl Teoh

CEO Hari: PSDC Stays on Course on Penang’s Industrial Voyage

10 min read

APPOINTED AT THE start of 2024 as CEO of Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC), Hari Narayanan has led a long career juggling both academia and industry for a...

by Grace Sudita

Adeeba Kamarulzaman: Fighting Diseases, Addictions and Social Biases

13 min read

THE THIRD Dr. Wu Lien-Teh Society Award for Leadership in Public Health was awarded this year to Adeeba Kamarulzaman, the Pro Vice-Chancellor and President (Mal...

by Rachel Yeoh

Hassan Muthalib: A Life Lived in Drawings, Animations and Love of Visual Language

15 min read

HE IS THE Father of Malaysian Animation, a title bestowed on him by former Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. He was also a recipient of the 2018 Merdeka Award u...

by Rachel Yeoh

Tan Shih Thoe Talks About the Business of Art at Hin Bus Depot

7 min read

HIN BUS DEPOT celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and so, Penang Monthly thinks it a great occasion to sit down with Tan Shih Thoe, the brain (and the br...

by Alexander Fernandez

Ernest Zacharevic’s Decade of Art, Rubbish and Transformation

9 min read

At his studio in Lebuh Melayu, surrounded by his stunning works of art, some completed, others still in progress, we talk to Ernest about his journey as an artist and what art means to him.

by Sheryl Teoh

Being Funny Gets Serious in Malaysia

9 min read

MOVE OVER, Marie Kondo. In the post-pandemic era, it is the stand-up comedy shows (not the art of tidying up) that have become celebrated across Malaysia. Rizal...

by Rachel Yeoh

Jemilah Mahmood: Giving Priority to the Planet's Health

7 min read

Professor Tan Sri Dr. Jemilah Mahmood is an eminent personality in the field of medical science and crisis management. She is also the founder of Mercy Malaysia...

by Rachel Yeoh