Koay Su Lyn - Penang Monthly

Penang’s Parking Attendant Scheme: Smart Move In Difficult Times

6 min read

BEFORE COUPONS PROLIFERATED, only to be replaced by digital parking applications, parking attendants were ubiquitous across Penang’s public parking…

by Koay Su Lyn

Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital: A Legacy of Hope And Love

7 min read

Born of Bishop Francis Chan’s final wish, Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital grew from a modest charitable home into a pillar of compassionate care in Penang. Sustained by faith, community and quiet sacrifice, its legacy endures as a testament to dignity in life’s final chapter.

by Koay Su Lyn

Saluting Our Warriors

7 min read

Peace never comes easy. In Malaysia’s case, the population had to survive the harsh Japanese occupation, the Malayan Emergency and Konfrontasi.Freedom a...

by Pan Yi Chieh & Koay Su Lyn

A Snack Well Worth Waiting For

5 min read

It tastes best when cooked with charcoal.Made from a simple base of flour and eggs, ban chien kuih is a popular Hokkien delicacy. It comes with a flavours...

by Ooi Kok Hin & Koay Su Lyn

Sitiawan: The Promised Land of the Foochows

10 min read

Sitiawan gets its name from the tragic tale of two elephants, one of which perished after becoming stuck in mud, while the other drowned as it faithfully clung...

by Koay Su Lyn

Planting Seeds of The Future in Balik Pulau

5 min read

“The 21st century witnessed the beginning of the end of the age of industrialisation, driven by the forces of capitalism,” said Prof Tay Kheng Soo...

by Koay Su Lyn

The first and forgotten Chief Minister of Penang

6 min read

When it comes to the history of Penang’s modernisation, the late Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu’s name will always appear. His legacy, from the Free Trade Zone...

by Koay Su Lyn

When Labour Ruled the Council

8 min read

Once upon a time in Penang, there were local council elections, and the underdog Labour Party reigned for many years.

by Koay Su Lyn

Penang’s Forgotten Protest: The 1967 Hartal

6 min read

The word “hartal” refers to a cessation of work or businesses in protest against a political decision. While the 1947 hartal, organised by the Pan-M...

by Koay Su Lyn

Local Elections as the Foundation of Democracy Part I: The Athi Nahappan Report Revisited

8 min read

It is not an exaggeration to say that we always have local governments. In the most traditional form of government in Malaysia, there were local chieftains governing sub-regional units such as “daerah” and smaller ones such as “kampung”.

by Steven Sim & Koay Su Lyn

The Athi Nahappan Report revisited Part 2: Local elections are part of a larger reform agenda

13 min read

The most cited recommendation of the Athi Nahappan Royal Commission of Enquiry must be the restoration of local government elections. Today, half a century late...

by Koay Su Lyn & Steven Sim

The History of Bukit Mertajam, Part II: From Rural Board to Town Council

6 min read

With the rubber boom of the mid-20th century, Bukit Mertajam develops to become a major town, spurred by the tenacity of the locals, an able council and – interestingly – the triads.

by Koay Su Lyn