Raja of Perlis: Passion for knowledge a foundation of human development
KANGAR: A culture of passion for knowledge is the foundation of human self-development, and all Malaysians, especially the people of Perlis, are urged to constantly seek knowledge to improve themselves in various aspects.
Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail said passion for knowledge begins with the act of reading.
"In line with this, I call on each of us, especially the people of Perlis, to continue to cultivate the habit of reading in our daily lives so that we may become knowledgeable individuals.
"A society that reads and cherishes knowledge will produce individuals who are educated, possess noble character, are faithful to their religion, and are highly skilled," he said.
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin decreed this when opening the Tuanku Tengku Fauziah Repository Centre at the Kuala Perlis Public Library branch here.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were the Raja Perempuan of Perlis, Tuanku Tengku Fauziah Tengku Rashid.
Present were National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang and Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli.
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin said the development of the repository centre was highly appropriate to ensure the preservation of the nation's intellectual heritage in a secure and pristine condition for the reference of both current and future generations.
"This initiative will benefit not only the people of Perlis but also residents of other northern states in continuing to seek knowledge through reading.
"I have also been informed that the National Unity Ministry, through the National Library of Malaysia. conducted the Malaysian Reading Profile Survey for the year 2022/2023.
"The survey showed an increase in the average number of reading materials read per year to 24 books, compared to only 15 in 2014. Congratulations are due on this achievement.
"I believe that the National Library has designed various programmes based on the findings of this study to strengthen reading habits among Malaysians and to ensure that the culture of loving knowledge continues to flourish among the people."
"I would like to remind everyone that the first commandment revealed by Allah SWT to our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW was 'Iqra', which means 'read'. Let reading become an integral part of our daily lives," he added.
Earlier, the royal couple spent time touring the centre, developed by the National Library.
The repository centre spans nearly 632 sq m and was built at a cost of over RM2.5 million. It was completed on April 15 last year.
The centre will function as a strategic hub for the storage and management of national-level library materials in the northern zone, covering the states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and northern Perak.
Through access to materials under the Deposit of Library Materials Act 1986, local and regional communities will benefit from a rich and diverse reference collection that can be used for learning, research, and the advancement of knowledge.
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