WITH the mutual objective of encouraging, recognising and rewarding both aspiring and established writers, in enriching the Malaysian literary scene, the Popular–The Star Readers’ Choice Awards (RCA) and Popular–BH Anugerah Pilihan Pembaca (APP) remain an important feature of BookFest @ Malaysia, and are now back after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
An initiative that started in 2008, the RCA for English reads and APP for Malay reads aim to encourage creativity amongst local authors, and to further augment the local literary industry by recognising authors for their efforts and contributions.
Entering their 13th iteration this year, both awards are organised in tandem with The Star and Berita Harian, and draw an increasingly diversified field of genres and writers, with every passing year.
This initiative also boosts Popular’s efforts in promoting the love of reading and books amongst Malaysians from all walks of life.
Celebrate the local talents
The RCA and APP count famous personalities as winners.
Previous RCA winners include Tun Dr Siti Hasmah (2017), Tan Sri Tony Fernandes (2018), Robert Kuok (2018), Norhafsah Hamid (2019) and Tunku Halim (2015) while Suri Ryana (2012, 2013), Datuk Ustaz Kazim Elias (2016), Hadi Fayyadh (2019) finishing on the winners’ podium for the APP.
Back in the 12th year of the RCA, the top three winners of the Fiction category went to Chan Ling Yap (the author of Where the Sunrise is Red), Norhafsah Hamid (for her books, Letters to God) and M. Shanmughalingam (Marriage and Mutton Curry).
In the Non-Fiction category, authors M. Krishnamoorthy (May 9: People Power Saves Malaysia), Tom Wright and Bradley Hope (Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World) and Kee Thuan Chye (The People’s Victory: How Malaysians Saved Their Country) were the top three winners for writing the respective books.
Celebrate the local literature
Nominees are selected from last year’s bestselling fiction and non-fiction titles in Popular and Harris bookstores nationwide.
This year, the nominees of RCA 2023 for Fiction Category: are
> Hanna Alkaf, the author of Queen of the Tiles
> Karina Robles Bahrin, the author of The Accidental Malay
> Norhafsah Hamid, the author of Time to Heal
> Rozlan Mohd Noor, the author of Posthumous Child: Inspector Mislan and the Playground Murder
> Murale Pillai, the author of Once Upon a Time in Malaysia
> Chua Kok Yee, the author of Not a Monster,
> Tan Jit Seng, the author of Abandoned Gods
> Rose Gan, the author of Pearl: Penang Chronicles II
> Tan Sue Lynn, the author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess
> Lauren Ho, the author of Lucie Yi Is Not A Romantic
The nominees for Non-Fiction Category are:
> Sharifah Nadirah and Muhammad Anas, the author of Healing the Heart: Leaving Darkness for Light
> Yeo Bee Yin, the author of The Unfinished Business
> Lim Teck Ghee and Murray Hunter, the author of Dark Forces Changing Malaysia
> Anas Alam Faizli, the author of Rich Malaysia, Poor Malaysians
>Gary Lit Ying Loong, the author of If The Sky Were to Fall: An Intergenerational Journey of Trials and Tribulations in Malaya During and After the Wars
> Tan Sri Ariff Yusof, the author of Parliament, Unexpected: Recollections of Parliament, Politics, and Pandemic in Malaysia
> Lee Hoong Lian, the author of The Tree Whisperer: The official biography of Tan Sri Dr Lee Shin Cheng, founder of IOI Group
> Rafidah Aziz, the author of Rapid-Fire Rafidah: Being Malaysian First
> Vivy Yusof, the author of The First Decade: My Journey From Blogger To Entrepreneur
> Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the author of Malaysian Son: A progressive's political journey in the heart of Southeast Asia
Awards celebration
The top three authors in each category will be rewarded with a certificate of recognition, a trophy and cash during a prestigious awards ceremony on June 3 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) in conjunction with BookFest @ Malaysia 2023.
The awards are separated into two categories namely, Fiction and Non-Fiction categories.
Each category will have 10 books nominated and Popular outlets nationwide will display the 40 nominated titles for both RCA and APP for readers to have a look at the nominated books.
All nominated titles will be sold at a 20% discount at 78 Popular outlets during the promotion period until July 9.
Vote to celebrate
Coming to the 13th year of the RCA and APP, winners will be selected based on the readers’ votes with the slogan “Read to Vote, Vote to Win” / “Baca untuk Undi, Undi untuk Menang”.
Readers will also be in the running for prizes whereby 100 selected RCA and APP voters respectively will receive a one-year Popular e-card membership and Popular RM50 gift voucher.
Readers are invited to vote for their favourite Fiction and Non-Fiction titles on Popular website www.popular.com.my or BookFest @ Malaysia website https://www.bookfestmalaysia.com/ and Popular Malaysia Facebook from March 31 – May 7.
Not sure who to vote for? Just read, think, and cast your vote wisely. May the odds be ever in your favour, and may the best books win!
The Popular-The Star RCA ceremony and Popular-BH APP are held in conjunction with BookFest @ Malaysia 2023, which will take place from June 3 – 11 at KLCC.
