Penang Island was fortunate enough to withstand the tsunami, but not without losing 58 lives (at press time). Yes, you are right, seems that less developed countries are always hardest hit, judging from the numbers, Sri Lanka has the highest casualties, then India, Indonesia, Thailand, only then Malaysia. I guess Penang Island has more concrete structures to withstand the waves.
For photos, http://www.worldisround.com/articles/105736/index.html & http://thestar.com.my
SoonTeik ex-TELF in China, reporting live from Penang, Malaysia.