KUALA LUMPUR: Ensuring access to books remains a key priority for the Education Ministry, says Fadhlina Sidek.
The Education Minister said initiatives that promote reading accessibility, including the Madani Book Voucher programme championed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, continue to be a major focus for the ministry.
“Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is also widely known as an advocate for book accessibility and the Madani Book Voucher initiative, and these are among the matters that often become our focus,” she said during her opening speech at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) 2026 at the World Trade Centre (WTC) here on Friday (May 29).
During the same event, Anwar had announced another round of the RM100 Buku Madani vouchers to secondary school and university students nationwide.
Fadhlina added that Anwar also sets a strong example for the younger generation by demonstrating the importance of reading, particularly for national leaders.
She also highlighted a new addition to this year’s book fair - the National Leaders’ Reading Gallery - which she described as offering a unique insight into the reading habits of the country’s leaders.
“It will offer, what I think, is a very interesting perspective into what the nation’s leaders read,” she said.
Also present at the event were Anwar, who launched the event, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh, Education director-general Mohd Azam Ahmad, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, and Higher Education director-general Datuk Prof Dr Azlinda Azman.
The 43rd PBAKL 2026 will be held from May 29 to June 7 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.
