Towards a reading nation by 2030, with national unity ministry at the wheel

The national unity ministry is ramping up year-long reading programmes in line with aspirations of the National Reading Decade and its aim to make Malaysia a reading nation by 2030.

Unity minister Aaron Ago Dagang said 422,994 participants took part in 146 programmes organised last year, compared with 234,158 participants in 2024 and 112,408 in 2023.

He said the increase was likely to be due to several initiatives rolled out this year, including “Jom Baca Bersama untuk 10 Minit”, “Karnival Citra Penulis 2026”, “Wacana Bahasa Warisan 2026”, “Media and Information Literacy Week”, “Sentuhan Komuniti Bestari” and “Kembara Ilmu”.

The rise in the number of participants was encouraging, Aaron said, as the ministry seeks to foster the reading culture and instil a passion for learning.

Aaron was speaking at the launch of “Karnival Membaca Perdana” and Melaka Book Fair 2026 here today by Melaka governor Ali Rustam. Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad also in attendance.

The four-day carnival from Oct 29 to Nov 1 is jointly organised by the National Library of Malaysia and the Melaka Public Library Corporation. It aims to attract about 35,000 visitors.

The National Library also organises the 2026 National Family Reading Space Competition, which attracted 336 entries from across the country, while the Shared-Use Specialised Library Star Rating Programme also received a positive response, with 84 libraries participating.

In addition to book exhibitions and sales, the carnival features various activities, including “Bicara Inspirasi”, a creative writing workshop and “Jejak Cop Literasi”.

Aaron said the carnival encourages public to read through a more inclusive and relaxed approach.

Books instead of smartphones

Visitors interviewed said books have an edge over smartphones in many ways.

Kindergarten teacher Suhaida Afindi, 30, said parents will be able to help develop their children’s language skills and imagination.when they read a book together, creating opportunities for them to communicate more closely.

“Children these days often use inappropriate language. But they can learn speak properly by reading and communicating with their parents. They can learn to use better words,” she said.

She said physical books remain important in nurturing children’s interest in reading and strengthening the bond between parents and their children.

Ahmad Syahir Hakim Zulkifli, 36, said books allowed readers to focus better on what they are reading, compared to reading online when they can get distracted by social media or other applications.

A group of secondary school students at the launch said reading is a huge part of their lives, with a wide variety of materials available.

Zharif Naufal Salehuddin, 14, who has enjoyed reading since he was six, can finish reading up to two books in a day, depending on how much free time he has.

He said reading helps people gain knowledge, see things from different perspectives and better understand various subjects.

Darwish Aqasha Abdullah, 13, said readers should be more careful when reading on social media and verify facts to prevent the spread of fake news. “This is very dangerous because I fear future generations may regard false information as fact, to the point where they can no longer distinguish between what is true and what is false.”

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