Worthy endeavour: Liang (second from left) exchanging the MOU with Kho at the event. Looking on are (from left) Popular Bookstore Co (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd associate manager Esther Yee, the university’s Chinese studies faculty dean Prof Dr Wong Yoon Wah and Chinese studies department head Prof Dr Khor Boon Eng. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: Popular Group is collaborating with Southern University College to help raise funds for its Malaysian Chinese Literature Museum.
Popular Group operations general manager Edward Liang said Southern University College holds a respected place in Malaysia’s higher education landscape, especially for its work in Malaysian Chinese literature.
He congratulated the university for winning the 2024 Brand Laureate World Best Brand Award in culture and ethnic studies.
“The international award is a strong recognition of the university’s 50 years of dedication to cultural research, ethnic harmony and academic excellence.
“It is a meaningful achievement in line with the university’s golden jubilee celebration,” he said in his speech during the southern World Book Day event held in Popular Bookstore at Mid Valley Southkey here yesterday.
Liang added that with more than 220,000 books in the university’s library and the Malaysian Chinese Literature Museum serving as a key research hub, the impact was very clear.
He said to celebrate such a special occasion and in support of World Book Day 2025, Popular Bookstore was happy to present two contributions to help the university in raising funds.
“We have a specially designed set of poetry bookmarks, five pieces per set, sold at RM10. These will be promoted by Popular Bookstores in Johor Baru.
“We will also set up dedicated shelves in seven Popular Bookstores around here featuring 127 books from Southern University College and its authors,” he added.
Liang said all the books will be sold for charity with 100% of the proceeds donated to the Malaysian Chinese Literature Museum.
He thanked several groups and individuals for their kind support, including donating their paintings, calligraphies and books to help raise funds for the museum.
“At Popular, we believe that knowledge changes destiny; reading lights up lives. We are more than a bookstore as we are committed to nurturing a reading culture and supporting education.
“We look forward to working closely with Southern University College to spread reading and strengthen our cultural roots,” he added.
Meanwhile, Southern University College chief librarian and Malaysian Chinese literature centre head Kho Tong Guan said they were looking forward to collaborating with Popular Bookstore.
“From April 1 this month until April 30, 2026, we will be working with Popular Bookstore to sell 2,000 copies from 127 various types of books that will go to our Malaysian Chinese Literature Museum.
“It is the first time that the university has ever done this, and it will be a very good challenge for us,” he said, adding that the museum has become an important centre for those wanting to carry out research on Chinese literature in the country.
Kho said that over the years, the museum has attracted a large number of researchers from all around the world, including from Europe, Japan, China and Singapore.
