Dr. Wong Yee Tuan

was Fellow and Head of Penang Institute’s History and Heritage Programme. He hails from Malim Nawar and has profound research interest in the history of Penang.

7 posts

The short but significant story of the Khean Guan Insurance Company

3 min read

In 1885, the Chinese-owned Khean Guan Insurance Company was established in Penang. This was in response to the growing number of Western insurance companies operating in the city in the final decades of the 19th century.

by Dr. Wong Yee Tuan

Before Palm Oil, There Was Coconut Oil...

5 min read

Coconuts turned out to be the only crop successfully cultivated on a large scale on the island, contributing considerably to the economy for almost one century. Why and how did coconuts become such as an important commercial crop in Penang?

by Dr. Wong Yee Tuan

The Evolution of Penang’s Chinese Associations

6 min read

As frontier territory, Penang generated many self-help groups in the early days. The Chinese were most keen on forming their own associations, organised according to a string of principles. These fulfilled many functions, but current challenges require them to adapt more than ever.

by Dr. Wong Yee Tuan

Let Them Not Crumble

12 min read

Seberang Perai’s decaying mansions symbolise the beauty of a glorious, bygone era. Who were the owners, and why were they built in remote places?

by Dr. Wong Yee Tuan & Koay Su-Lyn

Kampar: A Town Built on Tin

11 min read

Kampar is a small town located at the southernmost end of Kinta district. Nestled at the foot of Gunung Bujang Melaka, its name is derived from Kampar River, wh...

by Dr. Wong Yee Tuan

Teluk Anson: The Faded Gem of Lower Perak

15 min read

Teluk Anson is one of the few towns in Perak that owes its existence and prosperity to waterborne trade.1 It was initially a struggling village made up of attap...

by Dr. Wong Yee Tuan

Relau House: A Sino-Venetian Bungalow That Still Exudes Pride of Its Time and Place

9 min read

Relau, once an agricultural area in the south-western district of Penang Island, is today a large modern residential estate. Vestiges of its past linger on though, most notably in the almost century-old Relau House.

by Dr. Wong Yee Tuan