Editorial - Penang Monthly

Defining Penang Exceptionalism Through Its Geography, Its Biology and Its Human History

4 min read

One trait in people from Penang is that they are passionate about the place. Besides being their home, it is almost a holy place to them—a blessed place that inspires, attracts and awes most visitors.

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Narrating the Nation: Ooi Kee Beng’s Art of Storytelling

3 min read

Ooi Kee Beng turns 70 this year. A driving force behind Penang Monthly since its start in 2009, his steady leadership has helped shape it into one of Malaysia’s standout publications.

by Liew Chin Tong

As the Sun Warms the Valley…

3 min read

I AM IN the foothills of the peninsula’s main mountain range, off Gopeng. It is early morning, 7am. From…

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Simple Tools for Taming Your Prejudices

4 min read

I AM STRONGLY convinced that as long as children continue to be brought up to learn behaviours and imbibe ideas…

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

History: Mankind's Pursuit of Self-understanding and Self-acceptance

3 min read

IT IS OFTEN SAID—way too often—that “History belongs to the Victor”. There is of course a lot of…

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Between The Microcosmic and The Macrocosmic: We Are All Giants Now

3 min read

YOU WOULD HAVE seen them. Mobile drone shots of cities, done with the camera pointed straight down to capture the…

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

I Know Why Penang Food Is So Amazing...

3 min read

BORN WITHOUT ANY spoon of any metal in my mouth, food was a matter of having enough to dispel any…

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Climate Change: A Timeless Concern

3 min read

CLIMATE CHANGE. The phrase rings with an alliterative charm, yet it evokes a notion that is far from simple. It invites us to consider our relationship with the elements and...

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

After 15 Rousing Years, the Penang Renaissance Still Resonates Clearly

8 min read

We are at one of those self-appraising points in time when we—not only Penang Monthly, but also Penang Institute as a whole—stare hard into the rearview mirror in order to orientate our journey forward.

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

The Art of Getting Creative and Staying Creative

3 min read

I HAVE AN iPhone 15 Plus Max. It is equipped with the best phone camera in the world and I…

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Diagnosing Countries: Education in Malaysia Shows Signs of Arrhythmia

4 min read

WE LIVE IN the Era of Nation-States. At the moment, there are 193 members in the United Nations (UN). Inevitably,…

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Curating the City: Public Spaces and the Framing of Urban Architecture

4 min read

THE KEY DIFFERENCE that I observe when visiting a thriving city and a striving one is in the manifest gap in ambition and maintenance between private places and...

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng