Penang Monthly

Penang Monthly, by Penang Institute, is the voice of Penang, offering insights on its people, politics, economy, culture, and society, with a focus on local and national issues for curious Malaysians.

835 posts

Tighter cooperation between Pakatan Rakyat-run states

6 min read

From left to right: Former Perak Menteri Besar Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz, Selangor Mente...

by Penang Monthly

Raising Komtar

5 min read

Laying the groundwork for Komtar"Architects Team 3 was already invited by the City Council of George Town to advise on a hawker centre in the Prangin Road area...

by Penang Monthly

Penang's news

3 min read

Penang as economic hub of the regionPrime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak announced that the federal government intends to turn Penang into a regional...

by Penang Monthly

Jordan Plofsky: Acknowledging results and recognising performance

5 min read

How long have you been in Penang and what were your initial reactions when posted here? I have been coming to Penang since 2001 on a bi-annual basis, but relo...

by Penang Monthly

Palm oil remains key export for Malaysia

4 min read

PALM OIL is widely used in the food and cosmetics markets and has more recently been in great demand in the making of bio-fuel. There are many advantages associ...

by Penang Monthly

Before palm oil, there was coconut oil...

5 min read

WHEN PENANG WAS occupied by the British, it was intended not only to serve as a trading port but also as land for the cultivation of commercial crops such as pe...

by Penang Monthly

Death and the undertaker

5 min read

OOI THEAN CHOO, aka Ah Seng, is a soft -spoken, easygoing man who makes a living out of death. “I’ve been working as a funeral director for more tha...

by Penang Monthly

What the Selangor State Secretary issue teaches us

6 min read

IN 1993 the Federal Constitution of Malaysia was amended with the aim of removing legal immunity of the royalty. Articles 32, 38, 42, 63, 72 and 181 were...

by Penang Monthly

Garbage graves of Penang

8 min read

Different graves for diff erent wastesThe Jelutong dumpsite (20ha) was started in the 1970s and was initially used to receive municipal solid waste (MSW), the...

by Penang Monthly

In between heaven and earth

7 min read

You were born and bred in Penang. How did you find growing up there?I loved growing up in Penang. I was lucky enough to live on Gurney Drive, in one of a row...

by Penang Monthly

All that Rozz-matazz

7 min read

WHO DID PEOPLE WATCH Before Rozz (BR)? Where did we go out at night? The answers are lost in a hazy mist; it’s hard to imagine a time when Penang had a ha...

by Penang Monthly

The Shafee Yahaya Story: Estate Boy to aca Chief

5 min read

THIS NARRATIVE ABOUT Datuk Shafee Yahaya, former Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) chief who assumed the position from June 16, 1994 to September 11, 1998, written b...

by Penang Monthly