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.

817 posts

A steadfast patron of the George Town Festival

3 min read

This year marked the fourth year of the George Town Festival, and it was bigger and more spectacular than before.The festival has been able to grow into what...

Electoral system – options beyond First-Past-The-Post

7 min read

Just as fishes are not conscious of the water they live in, many of us take our electoral system for granted. Some consider that one ballot for a nominal choice...

Abenomics – the latest Japanese export

5 min read

Abenomics has taken Japan and the world by storm. Its effects have been impressive.1) Japan grew by an annualised 4.1% in the first quarter of 2013;2) The N...

Limits to growth in Singapore?

5 min read

Public transportation in Singapore.Whenever Singapore is mentioned, certain characteristics may surface in minds of many Malaysians. Typical descriptions...

Making home ownership possible for more

12 min read

A growing segment of Malaysian society is unable to buy decent or affordable housing which meets their needs and aspirations. House prices have moved beyond rea...

Ismail Hashim(1940-2013) Master Photographer

5 min read

The hallmark of every great artist is, when walking into a room or gallery, one can at once identify his works. Van Gogh, Picasso, Gauguin, El Greco, Modigliani...

China and Malaysia build joint industrial parks

7 min read

China and Malaysia have established two joint industrial parks to further boost bilateral trade and investment. These are government-to-government initiatives a...

Around the region

4 min read

Beijing’s reiteration of sovereignty and territorial integrity indicates that China’s new leadership will maintain past practice. While there is l...

Gun Killing on the Rise

7 min read

Businessman Tan Kok Soon was having dinner with his wife and two sons in a restaurant in the Oakland Commercial Centre in Seremban on April 14 when a gunman wea...

Penang's growth cries out for more local councils

4 min read

It has been 37 years since the enactment of the Local Government Act 1976 which, among other things, enabled state governments to undertake major restructuring...

Catching the East Asian wind

27 min read

East Asia has emerged from the recent financial crisis relatively unscathed. Fundamentals in the region are strong, and the OECD forecasts that by 2030, the s...

Penang News

2 min read

DOSH: Negligence cause of Second Penang Bridge ramp collapseThe Department of Safety and Health (DOSH) confirmed that the Second Penang Bridge ramp collapsed...