March 29, George Town, 2025- The Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy, YB Wong Hon Wai, officiated the soft opening of the Penang History Gallery, an important milestone in preserving Penang’s rich history and heritage.
In his speech, YB Wong reemphasizes that the gallery is not merely a collection of Penang’s historic artefacts but an active story space designed to reimagine the state’s bountiful heritage. “This gallery talks to our identity, ensuring the history of our past will keep on inspiring future generations,” he said.
The new gallery presents Penang’s pioneering legacy in the history of Malaysia. Among its many “firsts,” Penang erected the country’s first electric streetlamp in 1904 and built Southeast Asia’s steepest funicular railway up Penang Hill in 1923. However, YB Wong stressed that apart from technology progression, Penang’s power is in its individuals—the craftsmen, traders, and cultural luminaries like the late P. Ramlee mapped the state’s multicultural heritage.
The gallery’s opening also added to George Town’s heritage status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. “This accolade is not just about our buildings—this is about our people, our festivals, our food, and our traditions,” YB Wong noted, urging all Penangites to be proud and preserve their heritage.
Mr Koe Poh Teik, Managing Director, and business partner Mr Kevin Goh, Creative Director of Theme Reno Sdn Bhd, led the development of the Penang History Gallery. The company is known for its best award-winning attractions such as the Cool Ghost Museum in Melaka and Penang, Magic World Penang, and De’8000 Mini Golf Café.
Spending RM3 million, the gallery combines traditional storytelling with hi-tech gadgetry in the form of AI-created shows, realistic mannequins, and engaging holograms. “It’s not a museum—it’s an experience in time travel,” said YB Wong, highlighting the educational value of the gallery for students and the immersive experience for visitors and history buffs alike.
Visitors and history lovers can expect:
• Walk through meticulously recreated old streets of George Town;
• Witness holographic reenactments of Penang’s early pioneers;
• Interact with exhibits that portray the daily lives of ancestors.
“This is your history,” YB Wong told Penangites. “Let’s preserve it, protect it, and share it with the world. Together, we can make this gallery a beacon of knowledge and pride.”
The event was concluded by a symbolic declaration of the gallery’s formal opening, represented by an inspirational pantun that paid tribute to Penang’s history from Captain Francis Light’s landing to its present-day cultural significance.
The Penang History Gallery is now formally open to visitors and set to be one of the top cultural and tourism landmarks in the state.
