July 2026

Discover Penang’s living heritage in this month’s issue: from the revival of historic clan houses and district associations to new voices in the arts, community, and cultural preservation. Explore how tradition meets modernity as Penang’s diverse communities adapt, innovate, and celebrate their unique identity.

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A publication of Penang Institute, Penang Monthly is the voice of Penang - an inspiring read for the curious Malaysian, featuring stories about the people, ideas, and issues shaping the state's well-being. Sign up for a free account to enjoy unlimited access to all our articles.

Phoenix Press Rising: Publishing as a Creative Industry

4 min read

From printing bus tickets in post-war Malaya to operating advanced presses today, The Phoenix Press embodies Penang’s culture of adaptation and endurance. Its story is one of quiet innovation, where tradition and technology continue to coexist across generations.

by Lim Wan Phing

Built to Last: Lessons to Learn from Penang’s Many Heritage Brands

5 min read

Penang’s heritage brands endure not through nostalgia alone, but through clarity, consistency and community. From hawker stalls to historic hotels, their stories reveal that lasting brands are built as much on experience and identity as on the products themselves.

by Bernard Cheah

Penang as a Heritage Linguistic System

5 min read

George Town’s heritage is carried not only in buildings and festivals, but also in the languages woven through its streets and daily exchanges. As urban change reshapes the city, this piece asks what it truly means to preserve a living heritage rooted in multilingual life.

by Miriam Devaprasana

The Mighty Chang Variations of The Chinese Wrapped Glutinous Rice Dumpling

7 min read

From Chinese zongzi to Nyonya chang and Malay ketupat palas, leaf-wrapped rice dumplings reflect centuries of migration, adaptation and culinary creativity. This exploration traces their global roots, regional variations and the innovations keeping these festive traditions alive today.

by Dr. Ong Jin Teong

Tiger Hill: Exploring One of Penang’s Tallest Peaks

6 min read

The view of Air Itam and George Town as seen from the first part of the hike.

by Rexy Prakash Chacko

Urut Urut: A Care Partnering Journey

6 min read

Urut-urut explores dementia care through intimate recordings of everyday life by care partners in Penang. Through touch, routine and reflection, the project reveals care not as a fixed role, but as an ongoing relationship shaped by patience, memory and emotional endurance.

by Business

Business

Diversity In Education: The Prominence of Penang's Heritage Private Schools

6 min read

PENANG’S EDUCATION ECOSYSTEM is a highly interesting, diverse and colourful one. It is well known, no doubt, that Penang…

by Carolyn Khor

Penang Hill Festival 2026 Highlighting Natural And Cultural Heritage

4 min read

ON 17–19 JULY, Penang Hill once again welcomes the world to the Penang Hill Festival (PHF). Organised by Penang…

by Business

Business

The Human Legacy Behind Penang's Heritage Brands

9 min read

Behind Penang’s heritage brands lies more than longevity alone, but a continual act of inheritance, adaptation and trust. From family-run eateries to old trading houses, their survival reflects how identity is preserved not through resisting change, but through refining it without losing coherence.

by Tony Yeoh

Sustainability Is Good, But Not Enough; Let’s Aim For Satisfiability

3 min read

This article highlights the paradox of sustainable development: while necessary, unchecked global “development” risks ecological collapse. Ooi Kee Beng argues this calls for a deeper shift beyond sustainability towards “satisfiability,” focusing on sufficiency, ethics, and collective well-being.

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Merapoh: A Glimpse Into Malaysia's Ecotourism Future

5 min read

At the quiet edge of Pahang, Merapoh opens into one of the world’s oldest rainforests, where biodiversity, community and conservation converge. Here, ecotourism unfolds gently—less spectacle than possibility—offering Malaysia a rare blueprint for a more deliberate, living future.

by Peter Ong

Greening Penang’s Hotels: Wishful Thinking or Achievable Target?

6 min read

BY 2030, the Penang state government envisions an ambitious target of 80% of local hotels adopting green practices.[1] Tourism…

by Assif Shamim & Renuka Radakrishnan

Renuka Radakrishnan

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