Areca Books Launches Exploring Seberang Perai and a Series of Exhibitions & Talk January 23, 2026 – Posted in: Areca, Excerpts, Newsletters – Tags: areca2025, exploring seberang perai, jelajah seberang perai
Areca Books launched Exploring Seberang Perai on 20 July 2025 at Design Village, Batu Kawan, unveiling a richly illustrated guide to Penang’s mainland by Khoo Salma Nasution. The event marks not only the publication of an important new title, but also the beginning of a series of talks, exhibitions, and community engagements designed to deepen public appreciation of Seberang Perai’s landscapes, heritage, and multicultural stories.
Exploring Seberang Perai, along with its Bahasa Melayu edition Jelajah Seberang Perai, takes readers on a journey across the mainland’s scenic rice field, fishing villages, forest reserves, bustling town centres, and historic neighbourhoods. Blending research, photography, and storytelling, the book offers a vivid introduction to a region which, despite its immense cultural and geographical significance, is often overshadowed by Penang Island.
In her speech during the launch, Khoo Salma reflected on her longstanding interest in Seberang Perai, recalling her earlier work on The Pictorial History of Province Wellesley in 2015. “As a Penang islander, my strongest memories of Seberang Perai are of taking the ferry to Butterworth,” she shared. The experience inspired years of deeper exploration. “Many Penang Island residents are not familiar with Seberang Perai. Tak kenal maka tak cinta. Even the Orang Seberang themselves may not know other parts of the mainland that well.”
Photo Courtesy from Ewe Guan Hock
Supported by Think City’s “Levelling Up Seberang Perai” Small Grants Programme, the author and her husband, Abdur-Razzaq Lubis, travelled extensively to document the region’s stories. They visited historic sites, interviewed residents, and mapped out places of interest while enjoying, she added with humour, “a lot of food along the way.”
Khoo Salma also highlighted the importance of recognizing Seberang Perai’s true scale and potential. “People are often surprised when I tell them Seberang Perai alone is larger than Singapore,” she noted. The book’s cover featuring Kota Perai pays tribute to the mainland’s rice-farming traditions, anti-colonial struggles, and spirit of communal cooperation – elements she described as integral to the region’s identity.
The launch concluded with acknowledgements to the Areca Books team — designer Malvina Anthony, translator and advisor Abdur-Razzaq Lubis, translator Fahmi Mustaffa, and intern Siti Nurizzayany as well as the many Seberang Perai residents who contributed stories, hospitality, and local knowledge. “The future of Penang” she reminded the audience “is going to be in Seberang Perai. Don’t be left behind. Jom, Jelajah Seberang Perai!”
Upcoming Talks and Exhibitions
Following the launch, Exploring Seberang Perai was featured in a series of talks and exhibitions across Penang. On 17 August 2025, Khoo Salma delivered a Heritage Talk at the Penang Heritage Trust in George Town, where she introduced the theme and research behind the book to an enthusiastic audience. The session explored Seberang Perai’s varied landscapes and town centres, accompanied by a signing session that allowed visitors to engage more closely with the author.
The programme continued on 14 September 2025 at the Straits City Concept Centre in Butterworth, where two sessions were held to celebrate region’s heritage. The first, Butterworth and Seberang Perai Revisited, ran from 2.30pm to 4.00pm and offered an English-language overview of the mainland’s evolving urban and cultural landscape. Guests enjoyed light refreshments and a dedicated book-signing session with the author.
This was followed by Pengkisahan Seberang Perai, a Bahasa Melayu session held from 4.00pm to 6.00pm and moderated by historian, Nabil Nadri. The session featured speakers Khoo Salma Nasution, Mohd Herman Roslan and Akmal Anas Abd Malek, representatives from PESKAP, as well as local historian Haji Dahalan Fazil, who shared stories, research insights, and personal memories of the mainland. Both sessions featured a book booth showcasing Areca titles, alongside opportunities for attendees to meet the author, enjoy refreshments, and continue conversations sparked by the book.
Through the launch of Exploring Seberang Perai and the series of talks and exhibitions that followed, Areca Books helped spark renewed interest in the mainland’s rich cultural landscape and evolving identity. The warm response from audiences across Seberang Perai and George Town reflected a growing appreciation for the region’s heritage, stories, and communities. As the book continues to reach new readers, it stands as an invitation for everyone including Penangites and visitors alike to discover the depth, beauty, and resilience of Seberang Perai.
All the pictures are from Areca Books unless stated otherwise.
Aisyah, 23 January 2026
Exploring Seberang Perai, Jelajah Seberang Perai, are now available on Areca Books’ website and in-store.
