Yang Shuang Zi: Writing Taiwan Through Food
5 min read
“WHEN DOES FOOD stop being just food?” During last year’s George Town Liter-ary Festival (GTLF), Taiwanese author Yang Shuang…
March 2026
Our latest issue explores ageing as renewal, inspired by Ooi Kee Beng’s “liberational ageing.” Stories include love rediscovered, digital confidence among seniors, caregiving, and ageing in Penang, alongside women’s underrepresentation in politics, Penang’s GBS innovation frontier, future-ready education, GTLF highlights, outdoor adventures—and more, reflecting how purpose, participation, and meaning can be cultivated at every stage of life.
The Gold That Fed Us
12 min read
by Tan Shu Min.
Runner-up, Penang Monthly Short Story Prize 2025.
I. The Preparation
In George Town, they used to…
Fishing For Durians
11 min read
by Joshua Lim.
Runner-up, Penang Monthly Short Story Prize 2025.
Only once in my life have I gone fishing for…
Tenby Schools: Future-Proofing The Young
5 min read
Many parents still think quality education is the imparting of knowledge in a manner that produces excellent examination results. Others would comment that quality education is an effective, inclusive and all-round learning experience that prepares children for life.
Malaysian Plants: From Garden To Plate And To Canvas
7 min read
BY HER OWN admission, botanical artist Esther Geh is no good with plants.
“I have no green thumbs, fingers or…
The Challenging Journey For Women Representation In Malaysian Politics
4 min read
SINCE THE Beijing Platform for Action was formalised in 1995, governments have strived to meet the minimum threshold of 30%…
The GBS Sector Powers Penang’s Innovation Frontier
5 min read
FOR DECADES, Penang has worked to solidify its position as a global industrial powerhouse. Beyond its manufacturing sector, the Global…
Bukit Kolam: A Surprisingly Tough Hike
5 min read
THE HILLS AROUND Mengkuang Dam form the largest area of green space on mainland Penang, comprising both forested areas and…
Austrian Hikes That Left Me Dreaming
7 min read
I HAD AN opportunity to plan a trip in Austria when my sister had a company trip in mid-May last…
Expanding Comfort Zones and Third Places
3 min read
If urban living means that I possess a little space to call home, feel safe in and control, then how much I feel at home in a city would depend very much on how much home-like access I have when out in public.
Penang’s Bookstores Provide Precious Space for Culture and Companionship
5 min read
Across Penang, these reading spaces differ in scale, philosophy and operation. Yet, all share a commitment to something increasingly rare—a space to be.
Third Places, Tropical Rules: How The People of Penang Gather
8 min read
The question today is not just where we gather, but how the rise of air-conditioning, gentrification and ageing society is reshaping the “Penang shophouse” spirit into new, sometimes unrecognisable forms.
Explore column