THE newly reopened Penang State Museum along Farquhar Street has attracted an overwhelming response of 47,630 visitors in the first 49 days despite an initial concern over its exhibit quality.
State exco for tourism, Wong Hon Wai, said the daily crowd averaged nearly 1,000 on weekdays, while weekends surged to as many as 3,750 in a single day, with the highest turnout recorded on Aug 9.
The Grade 1 historic building, originally established in 1816, previously housed the Penang Free School and Hutchings School before being converted into a museum on the recommendation of Malaysia’s founding father, Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj, in 1964.
The current free admission period offered in conjunction with Merdeka Month will conclude on Aug 31, with standard entrance fees applying from Sept 1 onward.
Under the new pricing scheme, Malaysian adults holding a MyKad will pay RM5, while MyKid holders aged five to 12, senior citizens aged 60 and above, and persons with disabilities (OKU) will be charged RM3.
Entry remains free for children under the age of five.
For non-Malaysian visitors, admission is set at RM25 for adults and RM10 for children aged five to 12.
Free admission is also allowed on September 16 in conjunction with Malaysia Day.
The refurbished museum is the latest attraction in the state, and it is something worth exploring, according to Wong.
The revamped museum features modern interactive and digital elements, including a dedicated Natural History gallery highlighting the biodiversity of the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve.
There are also references to Francis Light, who helped in the formation of the state into a vibrant cosmopolitan state with strong historic ties and set the foundation of Penang as a vibrant entreport. - August 27, 2026.
