Anwar Urges Librarians To Nurture A Vibrant Reading Culture
KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged librarians across the region to go beyond their traditional roles and take on the challenge of nurturing a vibrant reading culture, especially among the younger generation.
Speaking at the 19th Congress of Southeast Asian Librarians General Conference and Meeting (CONSAL XIX), Anwar said libraries must not merely serve as book repositories or aesthetic spaces, but rather as dynamic centres of knowledge, culture and intellectual engagement.
'A librarian's role is not only to collect books and decorate them in glass cabinets. It is to turn the library into a vital resource to raise awareness and inspire readers,' he said when opening the event at the World Trade Centre here today.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Express
18 minutes ago
- Daily Express
No fairness with RM43b for Peninsula, nothing for Sabah
Published on: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 17, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has slammed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for failing to address Sabah's chronic electricity issues, calling it a gross injustice. "Where's the fairness and justice for Sabah when you committed via TNB RM43 billion to upgrade the national grid in Malaya, but there's no mention of upgrading the Sabah grid to 500 kV or building the much-needed southern link from Sipitang to Tawau?" asked LDP Supreme Council member Peggy Liow. Advertisement She said Anwar's silence during his Energy Asia 2025 speech on Sabah's power crisis shows a lack of federal commitment, despite Sabahans enduring years of power outages and insufficient supply. 'Sabah's energy regulatory powers may now lie with ECOS, but funding electricity infrastructure remains a federal responsibility under the Constitution,' she added, pointing out that the federal government owns 83pc of Sabah Electricity. LDP is calling for RM10 billion in federal funding, RM8 billion for large-scale gas power plants and RM2 billion for a 500 kV grid upgrade and southern transmission link. 'These are urgent needs, not wants. There's no need to beg, it's the federal government's duty,' Liow stressed. She urged all Sabahans, regardless of political affiliation, to unite in demanding action, adding, 'We've raised this issue before. Still, there's been no positive response.' Liow also invited PKR's Sabah leaders to engage directly with LDP on solutions. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia


The Sun
27 minutes ago
- The Sun
Anwar praises EPF's efforts in enhancing retirement adequacy
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has commended the Employees Provident Fund's (EPF) efforts in exploring new approaches to enhance Malaysian retirement adequacy. Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said he believes the involvement of the EPF and other government-linked investment companies (GLICs) signals a strong public-private partnership that will also enhance healthcare infrastructure, accessibility and quality, creating a system that can support all Malaysians. 'We have to recognise and acknowledge that EPF has done remarkably well and they are continuing to explore new approaches to enhance retirement adequacy,' he said during his opening address at the International Social Wellbeing Conference (ISWC) 2025 today. Anwar also highlighted that as people live longer, the focus must shift from lump-sum savings to sustainable retirement income. 'We must also begin thinking about how to build a system that reflects greater solidarity, particularly for those with limited lifetime earnings. In our government's vision, no Malaysian should grow old in fear of poverty, fear of abandonment or fear of irrelevance,' he added. The prime minister also highlighted that countries around the world are rethinking their labour and retirement policies in response to longer, healthier lifespans and evolving work preferences. 'Many nations have begun adjusting retirement ages, balancing fiscal sustainability with individual desires for continued engagement - these reforms are accompanied by increased workplace flexibility and efforts to foster age-inclusive environments,' he noted. According to Anwar, the country's economy is being reshaped by microentrepreneurs, gig workers and the self-employed, coming at a time when the labour market is undergoing structural shifts. He stressed that under the MADANI Economy, the government is committed to investing in digitalisation, inclusive innovation and small and medium enterprise (SME) growth. 'Through programmes such as the SME Digitalisation Grant, the National Industry ESG Framework, and targeted support through Tekun and BSN, we are laying the groundwork for an inclusive, innovation-driven economy,' he added. Also present were Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, EPF chairman Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. The two-day ISWC 2025, themed 'Living to a Hundred: Are We Prepared?', brings together more than 2,000 participants, 25 strategic partners and 24 distinguished speakers from across the globe.


Daily Express
33 minutes ago
- Daily Express
Consider nuclear energy to meet 2050 net zero target, says deputy minister
Published on: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 17, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Deputy energy transition and water transformation minister Akmal Nasrullah Nasir said although nuclear energy was not renewable, it was a clean source of energy. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: Malaysia must take another look at the possibility of adopting nuclear energy to achieve its net zero carbon emissions target by 2050, says deputy energy transition and water transformation minister Akmal Nasrullah Nasir. 'We need to maintain the affordability, sustainability and security of our energy supply. How are we going to replace our base load? Advertisement 'Nuclear energy is not considered to be renewable, but it is a clean source of energy. If you ask me, I think we may not achieve net zero by 2050 without nuclear energy,' Bernama reported him as saying". Akmal was speaking as a panellist at a dialogue session entitled 'Delivering Malaysia's Energy Transition' at the Energy Asia 2025 conference in Kuala Lumpur today. Launched in 2023, the National Energy Transition Roadmap aims to achieve 70% renewable energy in the energy mix by 2050, with solar and hydro energy at the forefront and natural gases serving as transition fuels. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia