FOR many B40 families, basic school supplies are a recurring financial burden.
Recognising the need to ease that burden and expand access to books and learning materials nationwide, Perbadanan Kota Buku, an agency under the Education Ministry, and Pos Malaysia Berhad have formalised a strategic collaboration to strengthen support for students, particularly those in underserved communities.
The collaboration seeks to combine Kota Buku’s literacy mandate with Pos Malaysia’s nationwide delivery network to ensure essential learning materials reach students who need them most, including those in rural areas, Orang Asli settlements, and communities with limited access to educational resources.
Kota Buku chief executive officer (CEO) Adibah Omar said the collaboration represents a decisive step forward in the agency’s mission to democratise access to reading and learning materials for everyone, especially students.
“By working with Pos Malaysia, we can reach schools and communities that have historically been underserved, ensuring that no child is left behind simply because of geography or socioeconomic circumstances.
“Literacy is the foundation of opportunity, and this partnership strengthens our ability to deliver that opportunity at scale, sustainably and with meaningful long‑term impact,” she said in an Aug 20 press release.
Pos Malaysia group CEO Charles Brewer said the partnership would help improve lives by bringing knowledge, opportunity and hope closer to students across Malaysia, including communities that are often harder to reach.
“We believe every parcel can carry a greater purpose. We are proud to support an initiative that strengthens access to education, promotes sustainability and creates meaningful social impact for Malaysia’s younger generation,” he said.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said the collaboration demonstrates how strong government-industry partnerships can expand access to books and ensure that geography is not a barrier.
“This complements the government’s continued investment in cultivating a strong reading culture and supporting Malaysia’s book ecosystem,” he said.
He added that RM220mil had been allocated for 2026, with existing initiatives already reaching about 1.2 million students.
“These efforts not only benefit students and teachers, but also support authors, publishers, booksellers and the wider book industry,” he said.
The collaboration builds on the ongoing nationwide “Two Million Recycled Exercise Books: Driving Sustainable Education” programme, jointly implemented by Pos Malaysia and Kota Buku.
The programme, which has helped families save an estimated RM2.4mil, aims to deliver more than two million recycled exercise books to 4,120 schools, benefiting over 200,000 B40 students.
By using recycled materials, the programme also seeks to prevent the loss of about 2,832 trees, demonstrating how environmental responsibility can be incorporated into education initiatives, Kota Buku said in the press release.
