Where could I go to read those 'more books'?

Produce more books, publishers urged

Could someone please direct me to a place where I could do my reading without paying all those exhorbitant prices of books?

Improving reading culture could start with having more public libraries, so people who can't afford to buy could at least have a chance to read them at libraries.

They can invest in some excellent books that they could afford to.

The Star Online > Nation

Monday June 6, 2005

Produce more books, publishers urged

KUALA LUMPUR: Publishing houses should work to provide a greater variety of books to help enhance the reading culture in the country, said Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.

He said this was especially true for Chinese-language publishers, as only around 10% of the total number of books currently in the market were Chinese-language books, most of which were imported.

“If you look at our bookshops, the variety of books cannot compare with countries of similar population.

“Thus, to foster a reading habit, the level of publishing houses needs to be enhanced,” the MCA president said in his speech during the opening of the Nanyang Siang Pau Book Fair 2005 at the MidValley Exhibition Hall here yesterday.

Ong said the country should follow the example of Japan, where statistics showed that publishing houses churn out some 704,000 books annually.

LET’S READ: Ong receiving a book from Phoenix satellite television presenter Chen Xiaonan as Nanyang Press Holdings Bhd chairman Tan Sri Wong See Wah (right) looks on at the book fair in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

“Their publishing industry is very active, and every Japanese reads around 30 books a year.

“As a result, they have become a forward-thinking and dynamic people,” he added.

Expressing concern that about 48% of Malaysians did not even read one book a year, Ong said:

“Reading adds value and helps us improve our quality of life.”

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