Keeping the Art of Death Offerings Alive
5 min read
When people die, they take nothing with them to the afterlife. Or do they? In the Chinese Taoist and Buddhist beliefs, the deceased do.
December 2025
Our December issue examines the flavours, practices and foodways that define Malaysian life, from home kitchens and inherited techniques to the diverse cultural influences that shape Penang’s palate.
Behind the Wheel: The Physical and Mental Toll of Driving Express Buses
5 min read
Responses in news articles and social media posts after accidents tend to do the following: Blame the bus companies. Blame the road conditions. Blame the drivers. Where lie the faults?
Relying on the Proximate and the Immediate to Keep Sane in a Virtual World
4 min read
Narratives are, by their nature, a collective event and a social event; in sum, they are an exercise of power as well, a nexus where different wills and opinions wrestle each other to emerge with as much claim to being true as possible.
Nibong Tebal: A Heritage Haven on Penang’s Mainland
12 min read
To the Chinese community, Nibong Tebal is known as 高渊, or ko-ean in the local Teochew dialect, which is both a transliteration of the Kerian River that runs through the town and a reference to the said river’s deep currents.
Once Upon a Time in Batu Kawan
8 min read
It may not feel like it, but Batu Kawan is actually an island. It is separated from Seberang Perai by Sungai Jawi, a wide tidal river, and Sungai Tengah in the south.
Flashes in the Dark: Learning to Protect Fireflies
5 min read
As part of this year’s World Firefly Day celebration on July 5, researchers, families and firefly enthusiasts had gathered in Bukit Kiara to spot these rare insects. It is also a way for researchers to connect science with public curiosity and encourage community-led biodiversity conservation.
A Short History of Penang’s Port, Ferries and Wharves
6 min read
BRITISH WRITER AND philosopher, Julian Baggini once wrote, “Looking out over the port of Dover, with the endless stream of…
Walkability Badly Desired in Batu Kawan
5 min read
Unlike George Town, Batu Kawan was—ostensibly—built “from scratch”. You live in one area, work or study in another, and hang out somewhere else. It sounds great in theory, but unless you have a car—which is not something to expect of students—getting around takes much more energy than expected.
Penang’s Keramat Roar: Football Fandom as Community Identity
3 min read
SOMETIMES, YOU DON’T need a map to know where you are. You just need a sound.
In Penang, it…
Getting to Know Seberang Perai Selatan
7 min read
Home to about 188,000 people, SPS is Penang’s least populous mainland district, and recorded the state’s lowest growth rate in 2024, at just 0.7%. Its population has remained mostly steady over the past three years, shaped by a mix of Bumiputera, Chinese and Indian communities.
Tan Sooi Beng: The Revivalist of Dying Cultural Arts in Penang
10 min read
Penang Monthly sits down to chat with her after she recently received the 20th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards (BCAA) Lifetime Achievement Award as recognition of her outstanding contributions to dance, music, theatre and musical theatre.
Placemaking for and by Residents: Participatory Mapping in Nibong Tebal
4 min read
Spearheaded by Arts-ED, a Penang-based arts and education non-profit, this participatory mapping project places local voices at the centre of heritage documentation—literally putting them on the map.
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