BANGI: A concerted effort is needed to ensure the book industry’s competitiveness at the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said producing reading materials with good quality was paramount in fulfilling the needs of the nation.
“Book writers, editors and publishers should be engaged actively in this initiative.
“Purchasing power among the people should also be put into consideration in our efforts to create a competitive book market, thus making purchasing affordable for Malaysians.
“We must also ensure accessibility of such reading materials to the people,” he said in his speech to launch the National Reading Decade (Dekad Membaca Kebangsaaan) in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia today.
Dr Mahathir, who is also the acting education minister, also urged Malaysians to adopt the reading culture.
He said the traditional reading sources like newspapers and books were on the decline due to the huge impact of digitalisation on the community, leading to the closure of newspaper companies and while books in libraries gathered dust.
“However, this does not mean that people have stopped reading. Almost all newspapers and many books have digitalised versions.”
He said the digital platform had also been used to spread fake news, which was detrimental to societal development.
Dr Mahathir pointed out that a systematic programme to encourage the reading culture must be implemented and expanded to the people of all levels.
He said continuous efforts by all quarters were needed to create a knowledgable society.
“This will be the catalyst and pillar fo the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.”
The National Reading Decade which would kick off next year would see initiatives implemented by the government in efforts to promote reading and culture of knowledge by 2030.
The efforts would cover six programmes, namely, diversifying reading materials, development of infrastructures for reading, organising book festivals, reading development among teenagers and children; e-books and life-long learning.