Penang's People and culture, language and attire | Know about Penang

Penangites comprise mainly of three main ethnicities – the Chinese, Malays and Indians. Penang is the only state in Malaysia with an ethnic Chinese majority which explains why many Chinese cultural and religious festivals are celebrated here on a large scale.

Nonetheless, the Malay and Indian communities' influence form the very essence of the state and this is evident in many of the buildings, food and local dialects.

Although Bahasa Malaysia or Malay is the national language, English is widely spoken here. Many tourists are surprised and impressed by the level of proficiency.

What makes Penang unique however, is the Hokkien dialect spoken by the Chinese community. Unlike in other states, the more popular Cantonese and Mandarin take a backseat to the unique Hokkien dialect brought here by the early Chinese settlers from the Fujian Province in China.

Penangites are a friendly lot and are more than happy to share their knowledge on local customs and must see places – indeed, nothing beats a local's perspective!

Languages used

Malay (Bahasa Malaysia) is the national language and the medium of instruction in schools and universities. English is taught as a second language and is widely spoken and generally understood.

In Penang, many Asian languages and dialects are also spoken and understood. These include Mandarin and other Chinese dialects such as Hokkien, Hakka (Khek), Cantonese, Tamil and other Indian dialects, Thai and Japanese.

Attire

Depending on activity. Generally you can't go wrong with clothes made of light cotton or other moisture absorbing fabric. Swim wear, sunglasses and sun block will come in handy for days on the beach. Flip flops and strappy sandals are the most comfortable footwear for walking and sightseeing. Unless you can afford to launder your clothes daily, don't bother with socks. Some classy establishments in Penang observe a dress code, so if you plan on dining there, don't leave that designer gown, suit and shoes behind.

Please note that there are NO nude beaches in Penang. Public nudity, in general, is frowned upon by the locals.

Get to know Penang's geography, do's and dont, people and language