Towards a reading nation by 2030, with national unity ministry at the wheel
The ministry intensifies year-round reading campaigns as the number of participants doubles to near half a million.
The national unity ministry in Malaysia is intensifying year-long reading programmes as part of the National Reading Decade, with the goal of transforming the country into a reading nation by 2030. Minister Aaron Ago Dagang reported that 422,994 participants engaged in 146 programs last year, marking a significant jump from 234,158 participants in 2024 and 112,408 in 2023.
This surge is attributed to various initiatives launched this year, such as "Jom Baca Bersama untuk 10 Minit" (Let's Read Together for 10 Minutes), "Karnival Citra Penulis 2026" (2026 Writer Portrait Carnival), "Wacana Bahasa Warisan 2026" (Heritage Language Discussion 2026), "Media and Information Literacy Week", "Sentuhan Komuniti Bestari" (Caring Community Bestari), and "Kembara Ilmu" (Knowledge Journey).
The encouraging rise in participants indicates the ministry's commitment to fostering a reading culture and cultivating a passion for learning. Speaking at the launch of "Karnival Membaca Perdana" and Melaka Book Fair 2026, Aaron emphasized the importance of making reading more inclusive and relaxed, suggesting that books should be preferred over smartphones.
Visitors to the carnival expressed that physical books offer a more focused reading experience compared to online platforms, which can be distracting due to social media or other applications.
Notable among the carnival's activities were the 2026 National Family Reading Space Competition, which received 336 entries from across the nation, and the Shared-Use Specialised Library Star Rating Programme, which garnered positive feedback from 84 participating libraries. In addition to book exhibits and sales, the carnival featured various engaging activities, including "Bicara Inspirasi" (Inspiration Talk), a creative writing workshop, and "Jejak Cop Literasi" (Literacy Footprint).
The carnival aimed to attract approximately 35,000 visitors over four days, from October 29 to November 1, with support from the National Library of Malaysia and the Melaka Public Library Corporation.
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