LETTERS: Malaysians, on average, read two books per year, according to the National Literacy (Trust) in 2005. That figure improved to 15 books per year in a 2014 study.
However, in the global yardstick, we are still lagging behind India, China, the United Kingdom and the United States, where the average reader reads 40 books per year.
Still, the reason behind this improvement could be the sheer amount of information accessible in the digital age.
Several studies revealed that most Malaysians preferred to read only
academic materials to pass examinations and light reading materials on sensational news/splashy media attention.
Reading becomes more like a chore rather than an intellectual curiosity. Sadly, this situation limits one's intellectual capacity to engage in an extensive deep and prolonged engagement in reading.
A recent United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation report indicates that the adult literacy rate of Malaysians stands at 94.85 per cent compared with Singapore, Brunei and Thailand at 98 to 99 per cent.
Thus, it is a wake-up call that we are in dire need of cultivating the reading habit among our citizens.
The Kuala Lumpur World Book Capital 2020 has embarked on a series of events to encourage the reading habit among the public. The slogan "KL Baca: Caring through Reading" urged book lovers and the public to share their reading activities online and participate in competitions.
The National Reading Decade was a government initiative to promote the reading habit and help people's mental preparedness in a voracious, creative and inclusive manner to make Malaysia a reading nation within the next 10 years.
Reading should not be seen as boring. It is hard to resist that in today's context where we are exposed to many online distractions, such as Netflix, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.
To make reading a fun activity, you should not restrict yourself to a study table. You can read at cafes, recreation parks, by the seaside, on the train or even in a car while waiting.
It can also be a communal activity where people can join reading circles, meet the authors and become volunteers to help underprivileged people read.
If you plan to nurture and polish a reading habit at any point in your life, you should start by exploring books that you are genuinely curious about and take the time to read.
Over time, you may find enjoyment in doing it and be thirsty for more.
The reading habit helps shape an individual's intellectual capacity. It also helps them to think for themselves and broadens their awareness of many issues. Those who read well will have better chances and opportunities in life.
DR SHEIKH ALI AZZRAN
Senior Lecturer,
Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM)
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times