This is a problem in Malaysia

What problem, I hear you ask?
Apparently, we is not reading enough. And it's our fault.
-----

The Star Online > Nation

Sunday April 19, 2009

MALAYSIANS STILL NOT READING ENOUGH, SAYS MUHYIDDING

KUALA LUMPUR: Although Malaysia has among the highest literacy rates in South-East Asia, Malaysians prefer light reading material like newspapers and magazines to books.

According to literacy statistics, out of 85% of Malaysians who read regularly, 77% of them prefer newspapers, 3% read magazines, 3% read books and 1.6% read comics.

“If we were to compare with American citizens, 53% of them read fiction and 43% of them read non-fiction books.

“Malaysians are more inclined to read light material while citizens from developed countries read books,” Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said at the launch of the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2009 at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday.

The text of his speech was read out by Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The UN Development Programme’s 2007/2008 report said the literacy rate of Malaysians, at 93.2%, was behind developed countries like Japan, Britain, the United States, Australia and Germany, which have literacy rates of 99%.

“We still have room for improvement in terms of increasing the literacy rate to 99% by 2020 and the quality of material that we read. Parents play an important role in nurturing the reading habit among their children.

“Students should read more books, not just revision books or textbooks for examinations,” he said.

The organiser of the book fair has targeted 2.5 million visitors this year. Last year, 2.2 million people visited the book fair compared with 700,000 in 2006.

Muyhiddin also said that more bookstores should be opened in the country. Currently, 45% of bookstores are in the Klang Valley, 20% in Penang and Perak, while Johor has 10%.

Book fair organiser Datuk Ivan Hoe said Malaysians thought twice about spending money on books but not on food.

“They forget that books are intellectual food,” he said.

-----

Ok, to cut long story pendek: it's a common notion that Malaysians do not read enough books that they are not made to read, and by Malaysians here, they mean students and young adults. Students are preoccupied with school books and textbooks whereas young adults are preoccupied with the Internet, pubs and work.

But if you live here, you would realize that books are so expensive that you would really think twice about buying them.

"Book fair organiser Datuk Ivan Hoe said Malaysians thought twice about spending money on books but not on food." (Honestly, I think they should have printed "... said Malaysians think twice..." but hey, wha-do-I-know?)

It isn't explained explicitly that a paperback here costs RM33.90 to RM43.90 whereas lunch will cost what... RM4.50 for the average working adult. Ask any Malaysian just how often can they spend 40 bucks on a single meal? Well, they don't. So the statement isn't really fair and is actually very misleading. As though it is our fault that we do not read as often as they do in the West.

How would you expect Malaysians to regularly buy RM35-books to read all the time? I mean I believe that a lot of people would love to, if they can afford it. I would. But, frankly, there are bills to pay, and I won't be able to read anything if the lights go off like an extended Earth-hour moment.

As a yardstick, for one to watch a movie at the cinema, it costs RM9 to RM11 (premier week), RM6 to RM7 for students, ladies night, seniors and early birds here... whereas the last Harry Potter book was sold for close to RM110 here. If it wasn't for the controversy regarding local hypermarkets selling the books at RM69.90, a 37% loss at their expense for each book, many of us would have opted to wait for someone to put up the whole plot on good old Wikipedia.

Keep the prices of books down to below RM15.00, then we'll talk.

I do try to read a book every month but my husband always nags me whenever he sees the price tags at the back of the books I buy. Psychological torture really. But, it's my fault la.