On 16 March 2026, a lecture by researcher Bernard Keo was successfully held, bringing together numerous research colleagues who took part in an inspiring and substantive professional discussion on the political economy background of one of Southeast Asia’s most important technological hubs.
In his presentation, Bernard Keo explored the deeper historical roots of Penang’s remarkable economic rise.
Moving beyond conventional narratives that focus primarily on the industrial boom of the 1970s, he highlighted how imperial-era trade networks and the peranakan Chinese community contributed to shaping the island’s role in the global economy.
Penang — often referred to as the “Silicon Valley of the East” — today plays a key role in positioning Malaysia as one of the world’s leading semiconductor exporters. The island hosts a dense concentration of multinational companies engaged in assembly, testing, packaging, and increasingly advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
The lecture was followed by a lively Q&A session and informal professional exchange, providing researchers and students interested in political economy, global history, and development studies with an opportunity for deeper dialogue and networking.