January 2026

Our January issue explores how artificial intelligence is redefining work, security and everyday life, from the promises of automation and digital finance to the ethical questions it raises about creativity, ownership and the future of human thinking.

See Inside Read as Flipbook

Hello and welcome!

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.

Nira Nipah: The Sweet Sap of Penang

4 min read

Coastal dwellers across Southeast Asia—especially those living in the northern states of Peninsular Malaysia—have, for centuries, tapped the stem of the nipah flower to collect its sap, known as nira.

by Liani MK

Potehi Evolves in Southeast Asia: In Penang, it’s Fate is in Good Hands

5 min read

In Penang, Potehi thrived in the late 1940s and well into the 60s and 70s. Unfortunately, Potehi lost its popularity to television and film by the 80s. Today, there are only four troupes left, with a majority of the members aged 60 and above.

by Lim Wan Phing

Stories on the Street: GTLF 2024

5 min read

GTLF 2024’s programme were tightly packed into three full days. There were panel discussions, interviews, exhibitions, book readings, movie screenings and more, all spread across a whopping 10 different locations in the heart of George Town.

by Teioh Nuan Ning

Living in Still Life: Reflections on Tan Chiang Kiong’s Odyssey

4 min read

Penang’s Soka Gakkai Centre is a fitting site for Tan Chiang Kiong’s exhibition. The venue now houses 168 of his works, turning the space into both gallery and archive.

by Tan Shu Min

George Town Festival 2025: Still Mesmerising After All These Years

7 min read

This year’s GTF theme was “Connection”, and the events were curated to explore that interplay between artistic expression and human experience, inviting both local and international visitors to engage with a diverse range of performances and exhibitions.

by Eric Yeoh

Dialects: Where Nuanced Thoughts Strive to Survive

4 min read

A tiny shift in stress transforms the meaning of the whole sentence. To me, this captures what Kelantanese dialect really is—not just vocabulary or accent, but a rhythm of thought and feeling that lives in tones and cadences.

by Izzuddin Ramli

Machete Making in the Jungles of Sarawak

5 min read

In the remote village of Long Beku, Penan craftsmen forge parangs from scrap steel—each blade shaped by fire, spirit, and survival.

by Rachel Yeoh

Bahasa Tanjong as Reflection of George Town Identity

5 min read

Bahasa Tanjong is a variation of the northern Malay dialect that, according to researchers, took shape over two centuries ago, making it more than just an accent.

by Liani MK

Honouring the Placenta in Malay Belief

5 min read

Malays believe that burial is the best way to return bodies (and body parts) back to the earth. This ruling extends to the placenta as well, once the baby is born.

by Husna Shafirah

The Deeper Language of Myths and Legends

5 min read

Every city has its whispered tales, restless spirits and forgotten figures that resist verification, and yet, refuse to disappear. Penang—for all its documented histories and colonial records—exists just as vividly in these half-remembered myths and community fables.

by Miriam Devaprasana

Lingo-ing in the Heart of George Town

4 min read

Gen Z, referring to those born between 1997 and 2012, is the first generation for whom the internet and social media are integral, not novel. Their linguistic practices are shaped by digital environments.

by Azar Firdaus Yusof

Translation as Palimpsest: Of Language, Memory and Meaning

5 min read

Translation, at its deepest, is more than carrying words across borders. It is the layering of voices, memories and silences upon the fragile surface of language.

by Pauline Fan

Total posts

3442

Explore column

Ads

Support us

As Penang Monthly continues to evolve, we aim to deliver better quality reads. At present, our issues are free to be read. But we need your financial support as we endeavour to be the voice of Penang and an inspiring read for the curious Malaysian.

Explore column

Feature

Editorial

Cover Story

Statistics

Photo Essay

Covid-19 Exclusives

Penang Profile

Ask Azmi