Hajar Ariff - Penang Monthly

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

An Ageing Penang: What The Numbers Show

5 min read

Penang is ageing as births fall and people live longer. With smaller families and rising life expectancy, the state’s population is shifting toward older age groups—reshaping its dependency ratio and redefining future social and economic priorities.

by Hajar Ariff

The Growth of Artificial Intelligence

1 min read

The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is driven by a diverse ecosystem of players, from full-stack platforms and industry-specified vendors to open-source innovators and cloud-native providers.

by Ong Siou Woon & Hajar Ariff

Getting to Know Seberang Perai Selatan

7 min read

Home to about 188,000 people, SPS is Penang’s least populous mainland district, and recorded the state’s lowest growth rate in 2024, at just 0.7%. Its population has remained mostly steady over the past three years, shaped by a mix of Bumiputera, Chinese and Indian communities.

by Hajar Ariff

Securing a Future for Malaysia's Paddy Farming

5 min read

Malaysian paddy farming is confronted by a myriad of issues endangering its endurance and feasibility, notably in Penang, where city growth and financial progress have altered the farming terrain.

by Hajar Ariff

Two-Wheeled Electric Vehicles: The Best Option For Penang

7 min read

Compared to cities like KL, proximity within Penang and its narrow streets result in a high number of two-wheelers. If done well, 2WEVs could be used for last-mile connectivity, bridging the gap between public transport and final destinations.

by Ong Siou Woon & Hajar Ariff

How Much Energy Are We Consuming?

1 min read

The National Energy Policy aims to establish a sustainable, secure and affordable energy future by outlining progressive goals across multiple phrases.

by Hajar Ariff & Ong Siou Woon

Secure Water Supply, Secure Future For Penang

7 min read

IN THE LUSH landscape of Penang, where the balance between urban expansion and nature conservation is delicately poised, the issue…

by Hajar Ariff & Prof. Dato' Dr. Zulfigar Yasin

Water in Penang

5 min read

IN A RECENT workshop I attended, Abe Woo, a senior lecturer from Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Marine and…

by Hajar Ariff

The Heat is Here to Stay: Surviving Climate Change is in Penang’s Own Hands

9 min read

“SHE IS HOT” exclaimed a male student, gaining immediate attention in my scientific lab. They clamoured to his monitor only to be disappointed to see that their...

by Prof. Dato' Dr. Zulfigar Yasin & Hajar Ariff

Our Worsening Climate

1 min read

Climate change is a change of climate attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere, in addition...

by Hajar Ariff

Creative Hubs

1 min read

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by Hajar Ariff