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Ooi Kee Beng

Dr OOI KEE BENG is the Executive Director of Penang Institute (George Town, Penang, Malaysia). He was born and raised in Penang, and was the Deputy Director of ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute (formerly the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, ISEAS). He is the founder-editor of the Penang Monthly (published by Penang Institute), ISEAS Perspective (published by ISEAS) and ISSUES (published by Penang Institute). He is also editor of Trends in Southeast Asia, and a columnist for The Edge, Malaysia.
Ooi Kee Beng has written 515 posts for Wikibeng

Embracing the Many Dimensions within which Citizens—and Countries—Function

By Ooi Kee Beng “Picking on the Present” column in The Edge Malaysia, 25-31 January 2025 As geopolitical shifts continue in ways that profoundly affecting East Asia, processes of decolonization in this region—most begun after World War Two, many transmuted by how that war ended, and all captured within the conflicts and standoffs of the … Continue reading

What is Modernity? Answer for Head-to-Head in History Today

Ooi Kee Beng is executive director of Penang Institute and author of Signals in the Noise: Notes on Penang, Malaysia and the World (Faction Press). Featured in “Head to Head” in History Today January 2025: https://www.historytoday.com/archive/head-head/what-modernity. “For most of the world, modernity arrived as a fully formed composite” MODERNITY HAS TO be considered a global event. It … Continue reading

Malaysia in the ASEAN Chair 2025: Policy Recommendations from Penang Institute

By Penang Institute’s researchers

Policy Recommendations for Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship

Interview on BernamaTV’s Nation ASEAN+, on 25th October 2024:

Between The Microcosmic and The Macrocosmic: We Are All Giants Now

By OOI KEE BENG, Penang Monthly editorial for January 2025 YOU WOULD HAVE seen them. Mobile drone shots of cities, done with the camera pointed straight down to capture the topographical grid of streets and buildings. Whether done in daylight or at night, the effect is a reminder to us of how like those of … Continue reading

Art is Individual, the Art Ecosystem is Collective

Opening speech at SPOTLIGHT, organised by Penang Art District, held at The Art Gallery on 4 January 2025 Thanks to the Penang Art District (PAD) for giving me the chance to say a few words. Let me start by saying that Penang Institute, though primarily the think tank for the Penang State Government, is basically … Continue reading

Historical task of realising a global human community has just begun

By Ooi Kee Beng, for The Edge Malaysia, 23-29 December 2024. From the column “Picking on the Present” NEW FRONTIERS facing the world today are, firstly, tantamount to a historical crossroads for humanity. They are that significant. Secondly, they are most cogently considered as philosophical and anthropological, as well as geopolitical and geo-economic. And by … Continue reading

Continuing on the Path Successfully Taken 50 Years Ago

By Ooi Kee Beng, speech given at the opening forum titled “Pioneering the New Frontier: Technological Innovation, Economic Transformation”, of the 5th World Association Presidents’ Conference (WAPC) held on 2 December 2024 at Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur. We can study the New Frontiers confronting us today either from a geopolitical level, or we can do … Continue reading

I Know Why Penang Food Is So Amazing…

By Ooi Kee Beng, Penang Monthly Editorial, December 2024. BORN WITHOUT ANY spoon of any metal in my mouth, food was a matter of having enough to dispel any passing pang of hunger. Often, it was the drink—plain water or coffee—and not the food that helped. It did not matter how. In any case, lucky … Continue reading

Be Humble, Be Honest, Be Honorable

By Dato’ Dr OOI KEE BENG, Speech as Guest of Honour at the Speech Day of St Xavie’’s Institution, 21 November 2024. IT IS A GREAT HONOUR indeed for me to be here today to not only congratulate the Award-winners, but also everyone here, at the end of the school year. I remember the strange … Continue reading