Unspent library funds, historical place names raised in Dewan Rakyat

Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi inquired at the Dewan Rakyat about the unspent RM19.2 million allocated for national library development in 2025. The amount was later cut to RM12.4 million, but the government showed no spending on these funds. Wong questioned the national unity ministry on why the approved budget went unused and whether public libraries cater to people's needs.

She observed that libraries are limited to weekdays 9am to 5pm, which is inconvenient for students preparing for exams. Wong suggested libraries should stay open on weekends to accommodate more students, as seen in her Kluang constituency where extended hours led to increased traffic.

Wong also requested details regarding RM6.85 million set aside for next year's National Library development. She encouraged libraries to adapt to contemporary reading trends on platforms like BookTok to draw in younger audiences. Meanwhile, Siti Mastura Muhammad from PN-Kepala Batas pushed for a law to safeguard historical place names like Tanjung Penaga in George Town and Klian Pauh in Taiping.

She advocated for restoring these locations and preserving their narratives, emphasizing that future generations should appreciate the history embedded in place names. Siti also requested creating a national archive of Malaysian historical artifacts, manuscripts, and documents currently held abroad, as well as bringing them back home.

She sought visitor statistics for the Guar Kepah Archaeological Gallery in Penang, which showcases prehistoric human remains and artifacts from a site dating back millennia. Siti urged more school excursions and tourism initiatives to boost the gallery's presence and promote local history, traditional medicine practices, and oral traditions before such knowledge fades away.