Turn the page: Buku Beyond Bars campaign aims to transform prison libraries

The Star

27-04-2025

Do you have books lying around at home, gathering dust? If so, why not donate them to a good cause?
Buku Beyond Bars, launched by the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR) in collaboration with the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) last year, is a community book drive that aims to expand the materials available in prison libraries.
'This initiative seeks to foster rehabilitation, personal growth, and mental well-being for the prison community through increased availability and accessibility of informative and meaningful reading materials,' says Mazni Ibrahim, MCCHR chief executive officer.
She adds that the idea for the campaign first came from Razali Ahmad, a former death row inmate at Sungai Buloh Prison in Selangor, who spoke to them about his 20 years behind bars and how books helped him through that time.
In a recent interview at MCCHR's office in Kuala Lumpur, Razali, 51, shares that prisoners on death row are allowed just one hour a day for recreational activities outside their cells.
'The rest of the time we're inside our cells, so reading became one of the main ways to pass the time. Many of us even read the same books over and over again until they were falling apart, such as the copy of Ahadiat Akashah's novel Lagenda Budak Setan (1985), which was very popular,' he says.
Beyond providing entertainment, Razali sees books as a powerful tool for self-improvement.
"When I read English books, I would have an English-Bahasa Malaysia dictionary beside me, so I could look up the meaning of any words I didn't know," he says.
"There were even some inmates who learned other languages like Mandarin or Tamil through reading comics written in these languages. Many of us chose to learn new things during our time there."
Donated books should be in good condition and paperback (hardcovers may be rejected for security reasons). Books with excessive violence, explicit sexual content, or provocative cover art will not be accepted. Photo: MCCHR
Drawing from his own experience, Razali recognised a crucial opportunity: to enrich prison libraries with a wider range of reading materials, offering inmates not just an escape, but a pathway to growth, reflection, and hope
'We were hungry for knowledge, and while there was a wide variety of materials, from magazines and comics to fiction (novels), self-help books and even cookbooks, it always seemed like there weren't enough books to go around," he says.
Razali recalls an unwritten rule among the inmates: any book borrowed had to be treated with care and respect, a quiet understanding of the value these books held in their lives.
'Because we all had to share the books, they became a precious commodity and everyone was expected to handle the books with care. If someone dog-eared a book or placed it open face down, they would be blacklisted from borrowing books in the future," he says.
Proud to have inspired the Buku Beyond Bars campaign, Razali hopes Malaysians will rally behind it.
"If you have books that you don't intend to read anymore, please consider donating them. They will especially be a lot of help for the younger inmates," he says.
Source of comfort and growth
Effa Qamariani, MCCHR's communications and outreach strategist, sees books as vital for comforting prisoners and keeping their minds active during long isolation.
"A self-help book might offer tools for personal change. Fiction can build empathy. Spiritual or philosophical texts may help someone make peace with their past," she says.
Effa adds that books reflecting the current world (developments) can help former inmates reintegrate into society.
"Being locked away for years can create a disconnect from how the world has changed. Reading helps individuals stay in touch with ideas, conversations, and shifts in the outside world, which can ease the transition when they eventually rejoin society."
Literary classics translated into Bahasa Malaysia are also welcomed in this book campaign. Photo: MCCHR
Effa says that the Buku Beyond Bars campaign accepts a wide range of books, including self-help titles, fiction in genres like fantasy, crime, and romance, as well as classic and modern literature.
'Current bestsellers are especially appreciated. We also welcome biographies and memoirs of inspiring individuals, as well as religious, spiritual, and philosophical texts. Educational materials such as grammar guides, dictionaries, and general knowledge will also be helpful."
All donated books should be in good condition and in paperback (hardcover books may be rejected by prisons for security reasons), and materials with excessive violence, explicit sexual content, or provocative cover art will not be accepted.
While MCCHR has set up booths as drop-off points at public events in the past and plans to do so again this year, the primary way to donate books is by dropping them off at its office at Oval Damansara, Jalan Damansara in Kuala Lumpur.
'We also welcome community-organised book drives. If any schools, offices, or collectives are interested in running their own mini-drives and sending us the books, we'd be happy to collaborate,' says Effa.
Since the campaing started in November 2024, Buku Beyond Bars has received hundreds of books, which will soon be delivered to Sungai Buloh Prison. However, MCCHR plans to keep collecting donations throughout the year, with the goal of expanding the initiative to other prisons, including those housing women inmates.
"Through Buku Beyond Bars, we aim to build community support in collecting books that can foster reflection, growth, and emotional support for those who are incarcerated. By donating books, you help make this possible," says Effa.
"Your book might be the one that helps someone feel seen, stay hopeful, or simply get through the day. Please take a look at your shelves or consider picking out something new, and help us expand libraries where they're needed most," she concludes.
More info here.