Cover Story - Penang Monthly (Page 11)

A history of local elections in Penang Part I: Democracy Comes Early

13 min read

Fifty years ago, in March 1965, local elections were suspended throughout the newly founded Federation of Malaysia.Those were turbulent times in many ways, no...

by Steven Sim

A history of local elections in Penang Part II: A legacy to protect

12 min read

In response to the increased dynamism evident in Malaysian politics today, and in order to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of local elections in Penang and...

by Steven Sim

One Heck of a Hill

12 min read

A bright future awaits Penang Hill, and keeping the balance between old-world charm and new innovations is the key.

by Matthew Tan Kiak Hin

The Ringgit and Sen of Festivals

11 min read

Festivals are always a draw, attracting people looking for fun and inspiration. But fun costs money, and balancing the bottom line well is what turns them into events that can run year after year.

by Sarah George & Julia Tan

Sarah George

A City’s Status and its Civil Society

12 min read

It’s not easy getting a Unesco listing. Apart from the rigorous assessment criteria, the nomination process can be highly political – tourist income, public recognition and federal funding drive state governments to compete with one another for endorsement.

by Shu-yun Ma

Shu-yun Ma

The Unity Fetish

10 min read

Building a nation involves sustained emotional stimulation, while building a state is more of a legal and technical matter. Balancing the two is the key to social stability and dynamism.

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Local Elections as the Foundation of Democracy Part I: The Athi Nahappan Report Revisited

8 min read

It is not an exaggeration to say that we always have local governments. In the most traditional form of government in Malaysia, there were local chieftains governing sub-regional units such as “daerah” and smaller ones such as “kampung”.

by Steven Sim & Koay Su-Lyn

The Athi Nahappan Report revisited Part 2: Local elections are part of a larger reform agenda

13 min read

The most cited recommendation of the Athi Nahappan Royal Commission of Enquiry must be the restoration of local government elections. Today, half a century late...

by Koay Su-Lyn & Steven Sim

Crisis ahead for private higher education – and solutions

13 min read

Graduating students of the Penang Medical College (PMC). Private university enrolment is expected to grow at 5.6% per annum and overtake the public sector in...

by Geoffrey Williams

Geoffrey Williams

Butterworth Beckons: A Bright Future Awaits East Penang

13 min read

It lies just 3km across the North Channel from George Town, but for most island side Penangites, Butterworth is a world away.

by Andrea Filmer

Cautiously but Surely, Penang's Growth Continues

8 min read

Penang’s economy is dependent on national and global economic conditions; the US economic recovery, lower oil prices, the Asean Economic Community (AEC) and the implementation of GST in Malaysia are likely to change consumers’ spending and producers’ output, as well as business strategies.

by Ong Wooi Leng

Putting Pulau Tikus on the Map

15 min read

Affluent. Cosmopolitan. Convenient. These are words that are often used to describe Pulau Tikus, a township in Penang that is pretty much located in the middle of everything. It connects the north of the island to the centre and the south.

by Julia Tan