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.

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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.

Write for the Curious Child, Read to the Inquisitive Mind

5 min read

OUR BELIEF SYSTEM is formed by what we are taught and our lived experiences, which then influence our decisions and perceptions. What stands in between with one...

by Rachel Yeoh

CEO Hari: PSDC Stays on Course on Penang’s Industrial Voyage

10 min read

APPOINTED AT THE start of 2024 as CEO of Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC), Hari Narayanan has led a long career juggling both academia and industry for a...

by Grace Sudita

Events in June

3 min read

EXHIBITIONPresented by Save Wild Tigers in collaboration with The Habitat Foundation, the Eye on the Tiger exhibition features over 30 breathtaking images captu...

by Penang Monthly

The Significance of the Revival of the Sending-of-the-Royal-Ship Ceremony in Penang

7 min read

SINCE THE INCLUSION of the Sending-of-the-RoyalShip ritual (送王船) in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list on 17 December 2020, this ceremony, which orig...

by Tong Wing Cheong

Spaces, Vigour and Funding: Keeping George Town’s History Palpable

10 min read

CULTURAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION of the highest order descended upon the streets of George Town in July 2008 as it was conferred the honorary title of World Herit...

by Laurence Loh

Events in July

3 min read

INCLUSIVITYOrganised by SHANZ Early Intervention &amp; Learning Therapy, the Perfectly Imperfect Charity Campaign is an event aimed at raising awareness abo...

by Penang Monthly

Kopi Jackfruit Monkey—Feeling Life in George Town

3 min read

I HAVE ALWAYS loved two things in life: travel and art. Combining these, my wife and I have travelled the world, stopping in particularly inspiring locations li...

by Nigel Sense

Left in Limbo: The Struggle for Citizenship for the “Overseas-Born” Is Not Over

5 min read

AND NOW HERE we are,” Amelia Tai is saying. She pauses, sighing a little. “He’s turning three in June, but there’s nothing I can do. I’m powerless.” She is talk...

by Emilia Ong

Emilia Ong

Keeping the Curtain Open for Peking Opera

7 min read

GuoGuang Opera Company, formed in 1995, was the outcome of the historical development of jīng jù in Taiwan. Today, it is celebrated for its innovative approach of presenting the stories of traditional opera through a modern lens, alongside creating new scripts for performance.

by Yee Heng Yeh

Public Housing can be Appealing in Design

5 min read

A FREQUENT QUESTION posed by the public and by construction industry stakeholders is, “Why is the architectural aesthetic design in so many public housing schem...

by Leow Kwong Choon

Recognising Penang’s Global Legacy Around Its Esplanade

9 min read

IN EARLY MAY, I was invited to the annual state-level Vaisakhi festival at Fort Cornwallis by the Sikh community. The choice of the fort as an annual venue for...

by Eugene Quah

All Aboard the STEAM Engine at Tenby Schools Penang

4 min read

A NEW ANNEXE in a school is a clear indication of student population growth. It might also mean that the educational establishment wishes to introduce enhanced...

by Samantha Khoo

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