KUALA LUMPUR, September 8 2026, All segments of society including the government, educational institutions, families, communities, the private sector, the media and young people must work together to make reading a part of Malaysians’ lives, said National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.
He said the desire to make Malaysia a Reading Nation by 2030 cannot be undertaken by the government alone, but rather needs to be mobilised as a national movement involving all levels of society.
“We want to create a society that does not just read more, but reads to understand, think, evaluate and create.
“A nation that reads is a knowledgeable nation, a knowledgeable nation is a competitive nation, and a competitive nation will determine the future of the country,” he said in a Facebook post in conjunction with International Literacy Day today.
Aaron said the MADANI Government through the Ministry of National Unity and the National Library of Malaysia (PNM) remains committed to expanding the people’s access to knowledge and information through various services and reading promotion programmes.
He said PNM services continued to be strengthened to include reference services, adult and child loans, community library loans, group loans, electronic resources, gifts and exchanges, writer’s funds, industrial training, reading promotion programmes, media and information literacy programmes, OKU (Disabled) information corner, Jawi clinics, u-pustaka and Malay manuscript services.
He said efforts to bring knowledge closer to the people were also carried out through 506 Rural Libraries under the federal government’s management, especially to expand access to communities nationwide
“At the same time, the reading promotion and media and information literacy programmes will continue to be strengthened so that the community not only enjoys reading, but is also able to evaluate information wisely, responsibly and ethically in the digital era,” he said.
Aaron said the celebration of International Literacy Day reminds us that literacy is not just the ability to read and write, but the foundation of knowledge, critical thinking, lifelong learning and a person’s ability to participate meaningfully in the development of society and the country.
“In conjunction with this International Literacy Day, let us cultivate reading, expand knowledge and make literacy a strength to build a more knowledgeable, inclusive and united society. Happy International Literacy Day,” he said.
International Literacy Day is celebrated on Sept 8 every year since it was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1966.
-BERNAMA
