Transforming Malaysian Society To The Reading Society

We had entered the new millennium of 2000 eight years ago. A lot of achievement we had reached. Many changes had been made. But still, we didn’t managed to increase the reading habit among the community of Malaysian. Even though many methods and programmes had been held to enhance this habit to the society, but it seem that nothing change much. It is possible to transform our society to the reading society liked Japanese? Or are we will stay behind liked this forever? I think that, what we should do is to launch more effective and creative ways to develop the reading community in this country. Here I have a few suggestions that maybe can increase the interest of our beloved Malaysian to read.

I think that our major problem is that the community is not exposed well to the books that we have in the market. Why don’t we promote books the same way as we promote new movies through the media mass like radio and television? In the commercial, we can give the audience the synopsis of the book to trigger the interest of the viewer to read the story. This is a very good way to acknowledge the people about the books that we have in the bookstore or in the market. This is also a very effective way to catch children intention to buy the books. The commercial maker must be creative in making the commercial so that it will be interesting and manage to steal people eyes. Besides that, another problem that hindrance reading habit to be cultivate in the community is that the price of the books that is too expensive. This will be the problem for those who have low income to buy books. The price of books should be lower. I suggest that we can use recycle papers to make books so that the cost can be reduced and indirectly can save our environment.

Mobile library is also an interesting method that can be done in encouraging our society to read. The mobile library should travel not only to the urban area but also to the countryside including Sabah and Sarawak. This to ensure that all people in Malaysia, no matter where they are, are able to use the service. While traveling, the organizer can held a few activities especially for the children at the countryside area to attract them to read. Free books can be delivers for those who are not able to buy books because of financial problem.

Together with the progression of the technology in our country, electronic book is not impossible to be creates. It is a very convenient way where story from books can be downloaded from the internet into the handphone or PDA or ipod and can be read anywhere. Well, of course, this gave advantage for those who are affordable to have the gadget.

Another interesting way I like to suggest is too convert the story in books to the movie form. I admit that before Harry Potter movie was come out, I never know about the existence of the books. We can do the same to our books. Make sure that the book are publish earlier that the movie. It is more interesting if the story is made in series so that it will enhance the curiosity of the viewer to watch the next series. As they are eager to know the next series after watch the first series of the movie, they will buy the book. Indirectly, reading habit can be cultivated slowly in them.

Last but not least, our writers have to come out with more interesting stories. The stories should not depend most on facts only but also have to have more comedy, fictions and fantasy. This to make people especially kids more interesting to read the books.

For me, it is still not too late to instill reading habit to our community. The government must not give up and have to keep the efforts to achieve the target that is to transform Malaysian society to the reading society. That is all from me. Thank you.

PREPARED BY: UMMI HAJAR AHMAD