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.

Understanding Sustainability Does Not Come Naturally

5 min read

Half the world’s population live in urban settlements – 54.5% in 2016 to be exact, according to the UN. This figure is expected to rise to 60% by 20...

by Noorhasyilah Rosli

Eyes Set on Industry 4.0

4 min read

Major changes are coming. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, the integration of physical and digital technologies, is underway. Within the manufacturing industry...

by Timothy Choy

Timothy Choy

Staying Alive in the LGBT World

6 min read

Mika“I’m a female, but I dress like a male. I do not conform to the typical gender binarism, and that’s why I’ve struggled with findin...

by Regina Hoo

Are We Happy with Our Buses or Are We Not?

17 min read

Public transportation in Penang dates back to the 1880s, when the first steam-powered tram, measuring 12.5km, ran from Weld Quay jetty to Air Itam Road, with...

by Ernest Mah Herh Sun

Listen Up, Malaysians! You Are Now Individually the Agents of Change

4 min read

One of the greatest challenges that faces a society coming out of a period of authoritarian rule and bad governance is the need to break away from looking to political initiatives and to politicians as the way to fix all national – and even individual – dilemmas.

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

So What Are You Reading Today?

12 min read

In the age of digital technology, the habit of reading jostles hard with live streaming and aimless scrolling on social media. Surprisingly – or not – Penangites seem to prefer old-school print.

by Rebecca Vega

Feeding Penang

16 min read

From international players to small cottage enterprises, our food manufacturing industry is thriving and getting more diverse.

by Regina Hoo & Noorhasyilah Rosli & Julia Tan

A Bungalow on the Hill

6 min read

Sanatorium. Retreat. Home. The bungalows up on the Hill played different roles throughout Penang’s history. The first structures to appear on top of Penang Hill were almost certainly a flagstaff for signalling the arrival of shipping, together with a small building to house a military detachment.

by Mike Gibby

Malaysia – Where politics must be ethnically inclusive and exclusive at the same time

5 min read

As truly as Malay dominance is an inescapable reality for Malaysia, a central policy direction that is ethnically inclusive is unavoidable for sufficient harmony to be achieved so that its economy can gain the trust of both domestic and international investors, and grow to its full potential.

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

Penang as an Entrepreneurial State

12 min read

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng talks about Penang as a high income model for Malaysia at Merton College in Oxford University.

by Lim Guan Eng

Lim Guan Eng

The Strange Rise and Sudden Fall of the Chinese Stock Market

6 min read

The recent rollercoaster ride that the Chinese stock market went on puzzled the financial world and spawned extensive analysis and scrutiny.

by Herbert Poenisch

Herbert Poenisch

Festivals of Significance: A Writer’s View of Literary Festivals

11 min read

Tan Twan Eng, Malaysia’s most noted writer of intricate and sensitive stories rooted in the country’s history, shares some experiences from the global journey of meeting admirers – and other authors.

by Tan Twan Eng

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