MALAYSIA’s foremost international literary event, the George Town Literary Festival (GTLF), returns for its 15th edition from Nov 28 to 30 this year.
Scheduled to take place in two iconic venues, namely Think City and Wawasan Open University (WOU), festival manager and co-curator Julia Tan said that Penang Institute, as the main organiser, is expecting some 3,000 to 5,000 participants this year.
This year’s theme, Urban Myths and Memories, centres on the unseen emotional geographies that shape city life, from inherited silences and whispered rumours to the deeply personal recollections that breathe life into streets, homes, and communities.
This year’s Festival welcomes an exceptional line-up of literary voices from around the world, including Belgian author Lize Spit, Canadian novelist Madeleine Thien, Dutch author Reggie Baay, French author Wilfried N’Sondé, Indian writer Nirmala Lakshman, Bornean-Australian poet and performer Omar Musa, Palestinian writer, historian, and academic Nur Masalha, Palestinian writer and director Dr Ahmed Masoud, Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-Zi, and Singaporean writers Amanda Lee Koe, Ng Yi-Sheng, and Shivram Gopinath.
From Indonesia, the Festival features acclaimed writers Cyntha Hariadi, Ramayda Akmal, and Ratih Kumala, whose work spans poetry, fiction, and screenwriting.
They will be joined by celebrated Malaysian authors such as Bernice Chauly, Tunku Halim, and Malachi Edwin Vethamani, alongside other distinguished writers from India, Taiwan, and the United States, bringing together voices from at least 12 countries in total and ensuring a rich and expansive literary programme shaped by diverse histories and perspectives.
Meanwhile, Penang Institute executive director Datuk Dr. Ooi Kee Beng extended his heartfelt appreciation to two main sponsors, namely Greatech International and HSBC Bank Malaysia, for pledging their support for this year’s festival.
“Greatech and HSBC have been amazing as they have continuously shown tremendous interest in our cause (GTLF), and we are honoured to have them supporting us again this year.
“We hope for this partnership to continue in the years to come, and we look forward to venturing into new possibilities too,” Ooi said in his speech during the GTLF 2025 press conference at Penang Institute today.
Earlier, Greatech was represented by its chief financial officer Koay Lin Lin, while HSBC was represented by its chief executive officer Datuk Omar Siddiq.
Both Koay and Omar, in their speeches, have collectively echoed similar objectives of the companies they represent, and how GTLF resonates with the respective entities’ vision and corporate values.
Greatech has pledged to contribute RM200,000 from 2024 to 2026, while HSBC is channelling RM100,000 for this year’s edition of GTLF.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi