Penang Institute

Penang Institute Penang Institute, founded in 1997, is today one of Malaysiaโ€™s major public policy think tanks.

02/09/2026

๐€ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ž ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐†๐“๐‹๐… ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ: ๐“๐ก๐ž ๐–๐จ๐ฅ๐Ÿ, ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐„๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ž๐ซ๐จ๐ซ, & ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐„๐ง๐ฌ๐ž๐ฆ๐›๐ฅ๐ž.

On 16 August, The Tarts Ensemble brought Little Red Riding Hood and The Emperorโ€™s New Clothes to life through music and storytelling, giving two timeless tales a fresh and playful voice.

Stories came alive through music.

As the country matures,Each Merdeka Day is a promise of individual hope and freedom;And each Malaysia Day a promise of n...
31/08/2026

As the country matures,
Each Merdeka Day is a promise of individual hope and freedom;
And each Malaysia Day a promise of national fairness and unity.

From all of us at Penang Institute and Penang Monthly, wishing Malaysians everywhere a happy National Day. Selamat Hari Kebangsaan! ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ

On 19 August, Penang Institute hosted Dreams & Memories of Places, a talk by architect Kun Lim reflecting on how family,...
28/08/2026

On 19 August, Penang Institute hosted Dreams & Memories of Places, a talk by architect Kun Lim reflecting on how family, place and memory have shaped his understanding of architecture.

The session opened with a welcoming address by Datoโ€™ Dr Ooi Kee Beng, Executive Director of Penang Institute, followed by Kun Limโ€™s talk, moderated by Ar. Idr. Bee Eu Tan.

Kun Lim drew on his childhood in a Kedah village, his architectural education and professional work across different parts of the world to reflect on how our early experiences shape the way we understand and create spaces.

He also shared a personal reflection on visiting his motherโ€™s hometown in Anxi, Fujian, where he connected his parentsโ€™ memories and the home they built with the landscape of her childhood.

His journey reminds us that architecture is more than buildings and spaces. It is about people, memory and the places we call homeโ€”and how the spaces we create can bring us closer to one another.

26/08/2026

In Episode 41 of Spill The Teh, Kenny Ooi, founder and artistic director of Rondo Production, joins Dr. Beh May Ting to explore the policies, infrastructure and vision needed to build a thriving arts ecosystem in Penang.

From the absence of a professional concert hall to challenges in funding and governance, Kenny reflects on what it takes to sustain the arts while bringing international musicians home, nurturing young talent, and connecting artists with audiences.

A conversation about vision, resilience, and the future of Malaysiaโ€™s creative identity.

๐ŸŽง Listen to the full episode: https://penanginstitute.org/podcasts/spill-the-teh/ep-41-building-world-class-performing-arts-in-penang-rondo-productions-kenny-ooi-on-policy-venues-and-vision/

๐Ÿ“š READ JAPAN DAY ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต11 September 2026 | Society & Culture (Part II โ€“ Modern Japan)Penang Institute is honoured to be a re...
24/08/2026

๐Ÿ“š READ JAPAN DAY ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต
11 September 2026 | Society & Culture (Part II โ€“ Modern Japan)

Penang Institute is honoured to be a recipient of the Read Japan Project 2025, an international book donation initiative made possible through the generous support and collaboration of The Tokyo Foundation, The Nippon Foundation, and the Consulate-General of Japan in Penang.

Through this initiative, Penang Institute has received a collection of English-language titles spanning history, literature, arts, society, culture, politics, international relations, economics, and business. In conjunction with this acquisition, Penang Institute is launching โ€œRead Japan Dayโ€, a monthly open day offering the public free access to the collection.

The fourth edition on 11 September 2026 explores the pulse of modern Japanese society and culture, featuring titles such as Tsukiji: The Fish Market at the Center of the World and A Tokyo Romance.

๐Ÿ•ค Time: 9:30am โ€“ 3:30pm
๐Ÿ“ Venue: Ground Floor, South Wing, Penang Institute
๐ŸŽŸ Free admission | No registration required

We warmly welcome you to join us.

โœจ READ JAPAN DAY SERIES
๐Ÿ“– 19 June 2026 โ€” Manga, Literature & Arts
๐Ÿฏ 10 July 2026 โ€” History
๐ŸŽŽ 14 August 2026 โ€” Society & Culture (Part I โ€“ Ancient Japan)
๐Ÿ—พ 11 September 2026 โ€” Society & Culture (Part II โ€“ Modern Japan)
๐Ÿ’ผ 9 October 2026 โ€” Politics, International Relations, Economics & Business

Collection courtesy of the Read Japan Project. All sessions will be held at Penang Institute.
-

๐Ÿพ A compassionate society is measured by how it protects those who cannot speak for themselves. Animal cruelty is not o...
21/08/2026

๐Ÿพ A compassionate society is measured by how it protects those who cannot speak for themselves.

Animal cruelty is not only a matter of individual acts of harm. It also raises wider questions about empathy, enforcement, accountability, and the responsibility of institutions and society to protect vulnerable lives.

In Addressing Animal Cruelty in Malaysia: Causes, Challenges and Strategic Solutions, Dr Rahida Aini Mohd Ismail explores the challenges surrounding animal cruelty in Malaysia and the need for stronger approaches to prevention, protection, and enforcement.

Building a more compassionate society requires more than awareness. It requires meaningful action, stronger accountability, and a commitment to protecting those who cannot advocate for themselves.

๐Ÿ“– Publication: Addressing Animal Cruelty in Malaysia: Causes, Challenges and Strategic Solutions
โœ๏ธ Author: Dr Rahida Aini Mohd Ismail, Project Researcher
๐Ÿ“š Series: ISSUES

๐Ÿ”— Read the full publication: https://penanginstitute.org/publications/issues/addressing-animal-cruelty-in-malaysia-causes-challenges-and-strategic-solutions/
๐Ÿ“ฒ Scan the QR code in the final slide to access the publication.

20/08/2026

๐‹๐ž๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐ญ๐š๐ค๐ž ๐š ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐›๐š๐œ๐ค ๐š๐ญ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ž ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐Ÿ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐๐ž๐ง๐š๐ง๐  ๐„๐œ๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐œ ๐…๐จ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ” โœจ

The Penang Economic Forum 2026, co-organised by Penang Institute, RHB Banking Group RHB Group and the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development (KUSKOP), brought together policymakers, industry leaders, financial institutions and entrepreneurs to explore opportunities, challenges and pathways for strengthening Penang's SME ecosystem in an increasingly competitive global economy.

The forum featured Panel Session 3, "Elevating SMEs to the Next Level of Growth," moderated by Ong Wooi Leng, Head of the Socioeconomic and Statistics Programme at Penang Institute. The discussion explored how Malaysian SMEs can scale beyond their current limitations through innovation, talent development, better access to financing and stronger integration into multinational supply chains.

The forum concluded with the fireside chat, "Empowering the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem," where YB Steven Sim Chee Keong ๆฒˆๅฟ—ๅผบ / Ah Sim ๆฒˆๅฟ—ๅผบ, Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development, joined Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng, Executive Director of Penang Institute, in a conversation on Penang's entrepreneurial ecosystem. They discussed how the state can build on its strategic strengths, talent base and global connections to remain competitive in the region while creating more opportunities for businesses to grow.

[Book Launch/Talk] The โ€œCommunistโ€ Role I Played: Undercover During the 2nd Malayan Emergency (1968-1989)๐Ÿ“… 9 September 2...
20/08/2026

[Book Launch/Talk] The โ€œCommunistโ€ Role I Played: Undercover During the 2nd Malayan Emergency (1968-1989)

๐Ÿ“… 9 September 2026, Wednesday
๐Ÿ•“ 4:00pmโ€“5:30pm
๐Ÿ“ Karpal Singh Hall, School St. Xavierโ€™s Institution

What did it take to operate undercover deep in the jungles of Perak during the Second Malayan Emergency?

Join Datuk Paul Kiong, a retired Royal Malaysia Police Special Branch officer and one of only four living recipients of the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP), Malaysiaโ€™s highest gallantry award for extreme bravery.

In his book, The Communist Role I Played, Datuk Paul Kiong recounts his 31 years with the police, including his undercover work among communist insurgents during the 1968โ€“1989 Emergency. Working through trust, negotiation and careful relationship-building, his operations led to the capture of 43 members of the Fifth Assault Unit without a single shot being fired.

At this book launch and talk, Datuk Paul Kiong will share his first-hand experiences and reflections on a pivotal period in Malaysiaโ€™s history. The session will be moderated by Datoโ€™ Dr Ooi Kee Beng.

๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Free admission, register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launchtalk-the-communist-role-i-played-tickets-1997801572282

Note: There will be no live streaming for this event. However, a recording will be available on the Penang Institute YouTube channel after the event.

19/08/2026

This talk traces Kun Limโ€™s journey from his childhood in a humble farming village in Kedah, Malaysiaโ€”living in a house built by his late father, an immigrant from Chinaโ€”to his professional and academic experiences in Europe and the United States. Through studies at the University of Houston and international travels for projects, forums, and conferences, Lim explores how memories, encounters, and observations across diverse landscapes have shaped his approach to architecture, urban design, and planning.

He believes that architecture is rooted not only in buildings, but in people, places, lived experiences, and dreams.

โ€œArchitecture is rooted not only in buildings, but in people, places, lived experiences, and dreams.โ€

On 16 August 2026, Penang Institute presented The Wolf, the Emperor, & the Ensemble as part of GTLF+โ€”an afternoon of mus...
17/08/2026

On 16 August 2026, Penang Institute presented The Wolf, the Emperor, & the Ensemble as part of GTLF+โ€”an afternoon of music, imagination and storytelling for audiences of all ages.

The event opened with welcoming remarks by Datoโ€™ Dr Ooi Kee Beng, Executive Director of Penang Institute and Festival Director of the George Town Literary Festival, before The Tarts Ensemble and guest narrators, directed by Fa Abdul took the audience into the worlds of Little Red Riding Hood and The Emperorโ€™s New Clothes.

From Little Red Riding Hood's journey through the kampong and her encounter with a hungry wolf, accompanied by Bruce Adolpheโ€™s music, to Peter Schickeleโ€™s witty musical retelling of The Emperorโ€™s New Clothes, the familiar tales were given fresh and playful interpretations.

With five musicians and guest narrators bringing the stories to life, the performance showed how music and storytelling can offer new ways of experiencing even the tales we know best.

Thank you to everyone who joined us.

Address

10 Brown Road
George Town
10350

Opening Hours

Monday 08:30 - 17:30
Tuesday 08:30 - 17:30
Wednesday 08:30 - 17:30
Thursday 08:30 - 17:30
Friday 08:30 - 17:30

Telephone

+6042283306

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Penang Institute posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Penang Institute:

Shortcuts

Share

Category