Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting Penang Institute, a respected public policy think tank based in George Town, Malaysia. Funded by the Penang State Government, it was established in 1997 as SERI
(the Socio-economic and Environmental Research Institute). In 2011, it underwent a rebranding and name change to reflect the Penang State Government’s expanded ambitions to position Penang as the country’s intellectual hub and cultural capital, and to enhance its reputation across ASEAN and internationally. Today, it is funded primarily through Penang Institute’s research grants, donations, and the Penang State Government. The visit offered an opportunity to observe how the Penang Institute contributes to public debate locally and regionally, and to reflect on the role of think tanks in fostering informed, future‑focused discussion.
A hub for policy thinking
Penang Institute plays a significant role in shaping conversations on economics, governance, culture and social development in Malaysia. It provides a great deal of resources including podcasts, statistics, research reports and papers, and books. Interestingly, every researcher is expected to publish three pieces of research every year, each of at least 6000 words.
During our discussions, Dr Tan Lee Ooi and Dr Beh May Ting covered a number of topics, including concerns over the cost of living, rising fuel prices and supply issues, and how to better care for the aged. There were many takeaways, but I will focus on three.
Left to right: Ong Wooi Leng, Head of the Socioeconomics & Statistics Programme;
Dr Beh May Ting (马美婷) Senior Analyst at
History & Regional Studies Programme; Wendy McGuinness (Chief Executive, McGuinness Institute), and Dr Tan Lee Ooi (陈利威), Director of Research. Photography by Clement Long.
Photography by Clement Long.
Penang Monthly magazine
The Penang Institute’s monthly free magazine provides an accessible platform for policy analysis, commentary, and cultural reflection. They currently publish 4000 copies every month. Dr Tan Lee Ooi said the magazine aims to provide a short, digestible insight into public policy without being overly intense. It’s a very good-quality publication with interesting and diverse stories, often prepared by young people.
It demonstrates how research institutions can reach beyond traditional policy audiences and engage the wider public through clear, thoughtful writing and photography. It reminded me of the quarterly Druk Journal published in Bhutan (see our blog on the Bhutan trip.)
Both Penang Monthly and Druk Journal place strong emphasis on public engagement and community building. Producing a publication of this calibre on a regular basis is demanding and costly, making the achievement particularly impressive.
The George Town Literary Festival
My visit coincided with preparations for the George Town Literary Festival, an event organised by the Penang Institute. The festival underscores their commitment to ideas, dialogue and intellectual openness – values that resonate strongly with the McGuinness Institute’s own work in New Zealand.
The festival is funded by local businesses and High Commissions (who help fund authors from overseas to join the festivities). Major sponsors include Greatech Technology Berhad and HSBC Malaysia. Seeing how literature, policy and public debate intersect so visibly was encouraging.
Brief ideas shared with Ministers
The Penang Institute occasionally prepares short insights for Ministers, referred to as Executive Committee Briefs (or ExCo Briefs). These are designed to draw attention to a specific problem and propose a solution. They are the only institute publications that are not made public. As Dr Tan Lee Ooi explained, they are typically prepared at pace, at the point when a solution becomes apparent and it’s timely to share insights quickly.
A memorable setting
No visit to Penang would be complete without a reminder that the natural world is very much present, sometimes in unexpected ways. The day before my visit, a group of monkeys (dusky langur, Trachypithecus obscurus) made their way into the building via the roof and descended into the courtyard (see photos below).
This space, known as the ‘oxygen centre’, is filled with plants that help keep the building cool over summer months. It offered a gentle reminder that place matters, and that institutions are shaped not only by ideas, but by their physical and cultural environments.
Reflections
The visit reinforced the importance of international exchange between think tanks, particularly as countries grapple with long‑term challenges that cut across borders, from governance and resilience to social cohesion and sustainability. There is much to learn from how organisations like the Penang Institute connect research, culture and public engagement.
Takeaways for the McGuinness Institute
Several aspects of Penang Institute’s work offer useful insights for the McGuinness Institute. In particular, the emphasis on accessible public-facing outputs, such as a regular monthly magazine, highlights the value of translating complex policy thinking into formats that invite wider public engagement.
The strong integration of ideas, culture and place, seen through the connection with the George Town Literary Festival, also reinforces the importance of creating spaces where policy, creativity and civic dialogue intersect.
Finally, the Penang Institute’s outward-looking approach underscores the benefits of international connections between think tanks, especially as we seek to strengthen long-term thinking, resilience and public trust in decision-making in Aotearoa New Zealand.
I am grateful to the team at Penang Institute for their hospitality and openness, and I look forward to continuing the exchange of ideas between our institutes.
Photography by Clement Long.
