Lighting the way
4 min read
CAMBODIA IN THE early 1990s was not the investment location of choice for the “big guns” of the Western business elite, despite its proximity to the Asian Tigers.
The Humanities are needed more than ever
5 min read
Taken from the keynote address at the Opening Dinner of the Ninth Regional API Workshop of The Nippon Foundation Fellowships for Asian Public Intellectuals (API) Programme, held on November 20, 2010 in Penang.
Malaysia needs an equitable healthcare system
10 min read
Any humane society must adopt the principle that healthcare is a right of all its citizens and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognises “the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.”
Greening communities in Penang
7 min read
GOING GREEN IS no longer simply a buzzword, nor is it a passing fad. This is becoming obvious to more and more people. In this decade alone, many have come to realise that global warming and climate change are a stark reality and unavoidable phenomena due to anthropogenic activities.
Eco-towns – The Asian Experience
5 min read
OPINIONS VARY WHEN it comes to the definition of an Eco-town; essentially, an Eco-town is a township that incorporates environmental protection and management practices in its daily affairs.
Best Step Forward For Public Transport
5 min read
IT IS A FAMILIAR SIGHT: every working day, right after quitting time, the Penang Bridge is filled with thousands of cars (with plenty of empty passenger seats), lines very slowly inching forward.
The Vast Potential of Gender Responsive Budgeting
8 min read
Governance is more than being transparent, accountable and competent. It is about allocation of resources as well. You need clear goals in your budgeting. Gender is a parameter that should be prioritised, since policies cannot help but affect men and women differently.
Rocking For Our Rights
5 min read
With the elections around the corner, a group of musicians got together to spread the word on what our rights really are.
Is The CPI Vulnerable to Mood Swings?
3 min read
The consumer price index or CPI measures price movements from one year to the next, giving us an indication of inflation. A variety of consumption items goes into computing the CPI but each is given a different weight.
Muslim Mercantile Activities in George Town Before The Second World War
9 min read
BUSINESS AND TRADING ACTIVITIES were not foreign to the Malays at the time when Francis Light occupied Penang on August 11, 1786; various bazaars were opened by Chinese, Indians and Muslims from Kedah to sell essential goods like foodstuffs, rice, spices, clothing and other items.
Sao Lim Comes to Penang
5 min read
Many Penangites grew up with some connection to some martial art. But few realise that there are more than 50 Chinese martial arts schools to be found in the state.
Penang As A Knowledge Hub
4 min read
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT industrial clusters enhance the competitive advantage of states or regions. The clustering of related industries reduces transaction costs, stimulates innovations, and drives development.