Publications

Eat Rite: The Recipe Book is the first publication of its kind that brings together all the traditional recipes made by the people of George Town to commemorate the many festivals and special events celebrated by this vibrant, multicultural community throughout the year.

More than just a book of recipes, this book is also a timeless documentation of George Town’s intangible cultural heritage that encapsulates a legacy of precious moments shared around the dining table, the communion of culture and beliefs, and the secret family recipes handed down from one generation to the next.

Created with the home cook in mind, the book is packed with no-nonsense instructions, photos and illustrations to help you create each dish with confidence. It’s like helping out in the kitchen with mom, listening to her wisdom and stories, and holding your hand as she teaches you the steps and personal touches to make her special recipe.

The Northam Road Protestant Cemetery is probably the first burial ground to have been established following settlement of Penang by the British East India Company in 1786. It is certainly the first Christian cemetery, catering to both Roman Catholic and Protestant burials.

This richly illustrated, limited edition two-part set is the most definitive work ever published about the Protestant side of this cemetery. Covering all 464 surviving memorials and tombs, with background stories to most of the identifiable persons interred there, it captures an invaluable and enthralling snapshot of the lives of Penang’s inhabitants during the settlement’s first 100 years. It also contains a list of 1,437 names of other persons known to have been interred in the same cemetery during that time.

Rancangan Kawasan Khas (RKK) George Town merupakan Pelan Pengurusan Pemuliharaan bagi Tapak Warisan Dunia UNESCO George Town. RKK dijadikan sebagai rujukan kepada komuniti, pemilik bangunan dan orang awam yang khususnya tinggal di Tapak Warisan Dunia ini untuk mengurus dan menjaga bangunan warisan. RKK mempunyai strategi pengurusan dan pelan tindakan untuk memulihara dan melindungi Nilai-nilai Keunggulan Sejagat Tapak Warisan Dunia.

The George Town Special Area Plan (SAP) is the Conservation Management Plan for the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site. The SAP is the reference for the community, building owners and the public, especially those living in the World Heritage Site, for better care and management of the heritage buildings. It contains management strategies and action plans to protect the Outstanding Universal Values of the World Heritage Site.

George Town: Our Stories is a compilation of 42 stories written by various personalities in Penang, detailing their recollections and thoughts of the historic city. The book is lavishly illustrated with photographs and other visual artwork. Delving into the book will take the reader down memory lane, and discover “new stories” of “Pho Tay” (down town) of the past.

Unique cultural diversity, spanning more than two centuries of settlement, has left recognisable imprints throughout George Town World Heritage Site. They are reflected in its citizenry, its food, its festivals and trades, and its intriguing assortment of architectural styles. But who left these imprints and what are their stories?

Delving into the historical past of 75 prominent commercial and civic sites, this book reveals the stories of the individuals, families, corporations and institutions involved. Some have since passed into history; others have grown in strength and are still making history today.

These stories, accompanied by over 280 illustrations, will transport you back through the layers of time, providing a rare insight into the growth of commerce and advancement of civic life in this fledgling, and then thriving, city.

Little India remains a most colourful and dynamic enclave amongst the enchanting street networks and precints in the George Town World Heritage Site. It sustains cultural features unchanged from the past that coexist in harmony with newer, modern elements permeating this neighbourhood which is located in the north-eastern cape on Penang Island.

Lavishly illustrated with over 230 specially commissioned photographs and never-before-published historical images, Little India of George Town presents a pictorial record of contemporary life in the area and its evolution through the last two centuries. The book also offers interesting and little-known facts about various aspects related to the richly concentrated inner-city area, including glimpses into its history, communities, trades, landmarks, festivals, streetscape and architecture.

Take a journey into the nooks and crannies of Little India, unearth its existing riches and discover for yourself why it is cherished as one of the most remarkable cultural enclaves in Malaysia.

Every person in George Town has a story of their own to tell, and Memori di George Town is a collection of those many stories that relate to this historic city.

A tale of friendship with the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee, a memory of service with the Penang Port, an account of life under the Japanese occupation, a story of origin for the popular mi sotong, a chronicle of a second-hand book seller in Chowrasta Market, and a recount of one’s self-discovery in George Town.

An anthology of 29 stories told by people from all walks of life, this book is set to draw chuckles, smiles, or even tears from readers who share the same nostalgic recollection of memories in George Town. Even if you cannot relate to those memories, you will be enthralled by the words of those who have seen the many facets of George Town.

Penang’s architectural heritage is one of the finest in Southeast Asia. Perhaps the most characteristic building form is the shophouse whose design style has evolved over nearly two hundred years, picking up the influences from many different cultures. With a growing awareness of the significance of the built environment – stimulated by George Town’s inscription by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2008 – there is greater interest than ever in understanding the construction and conservation of these shophouses. Drawing on many years of research and practical experience as a heritage architect, Tan Yeow Wooi has produced and up-to-date, fully illustrated and comprehensive handbook that catalogues and represents the vast array of features and materials used in these outstanding buildings. Whether you are interested in interior design, whether you are preserving a shophouse, or whether you are simply exploring architectural history, Penang Shophouses is the state-of-the-art resource, invaluable for professionals and the general public alike.

Drawing on unrivalled access to original correspondence, reports, newspapers and contemporary accounts, Penang: The Fourth Presidency of India presents an in-depth and compelling narrative of a fascinating story.

The second of a four-volume series, the focus here is the development of major structures and institutions: Fort Cornwallis, St George’s Church, the Penang Free School, the Public Library and the Spice and Botanic Gardens, and the forces of nature which conspired to thwart the settlement: fire and erosion of the seafront.

Beautifully illustrated with paintings, sketches, engravings and maps – many previously unpublished – this and the accompanying volumes will be the authoritative reference for historians and general readers for generations to come.

George Town in Penang is a teeming heritage city where the East and West have converged over the centuries to trade, celebrate and live. The city’s unique cultural and physical environment was recognised in its 2008 inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city’s celebrated landscape is a reflection of its tightly-woven multi-cultural community that has fostered a unique spirit of place, shaped by the shared aspirations and over 200 years of interaction.

George Town’s cohesive environment has encouraged the continuation of age-old traditions, as well as the transfer of artisanal skills and trades through the generations. The book Penang’s Living Legacy feature 36 unique heritage trades and offers a rare glimpse of the skills and talents of its practitioners.

The glove puppet theatre of East and Southeast Asia – known as potehi – is one of the oldest and best-loved performing arts traditions. This bilingual multimedia box set – containing a lavishly illustrated book, two charming flipbooks, a spectacular stage pop-up, attractive posters and a captivating performance DVD – presents a comprehensive account of the rich history and current practice of potehi in Penang, Malaysia.

Starting with an historical account of how glove puppet theatre came to Penang and its ritualistic roots, the authors trace every aspect of the heritage, principles and techniques of four present-day troupes: the performers, patrons and audiences; the rituals and celebrations; the anatomy of the stages and the puppets themselves; the stories, scripts and music; and the control and manipulation of the puppets.

Based on extensive research and observation, Potehi Glove Puppet Theatre of Penang brings to life the artistry of the magical world of puppets and puppet theatre – and passes it on to a new generation.

In the historic city of George Town, while one trishaw rider is being directed to ‘Lean Hwa Ho’ – the ‘stream of the lotus flowers’, a taxi is being directed to ‘Nyior Cabang’ – the ‘row of coconut trees’, both passengers actually wish to go to Leith Street, which now has neither lotus flowers nor coconut trees. As the ‘street of stonemasons’ or ‘Pak Cheok Kay’ or Acheen Street embraces its last few actual stonemasons, this publication seeks to document the delightful wealth of oral history in the form of local references used over the last 200 years to refer to our streets by occupations, trades, activities and local personalities.

These references were not only useful and pertinent, often they were droll and witty. Sometimes puns were used, occasionally they were even risqué. The historical significance of these traditional names was so valued that the first compilation appeared in 1900. This latest one features 118 streets within the George Town World Heritage Site and beyond, and attempts to put together the recollections of the dwindling residents of the inner city.