Anwar said the initiative forms part of the government’s continued commitment to strengthening a reading culture and ensuring that education remains a national priority.
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced that all students under the Education Ministry, as well as university students nationwide under the Higher Education Ministry, will continue to receive RM100 each for book purchases.
Speaking at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2026, Anwar said the initiative forms part of the government’s continued commitment to strengthening a reading culture and ensuring that education remains a national priority, even amid economic challenges.
“This culture of reading has become a challenge in the modern world, where many have lost interest in reading and instead rely on social media, reducing complex matters into very short statements.
“This is dangerous and does not constitute education or a culture of knowledge,” he said.
Anwar emphasised that while the government is managing fiscal constraints, funding for education and knowledge development would not be compromised, as reading is a key pillar in building a civilised and knowledge-based society.
He also urged parents and educators to actively encourage children to read, stressing that books should not merely be purchased and stored, but regularly read and engaged with as part of daily learning habits.
“Every Friday, I go to the mosque and meet children. I often ask how are school toilets, how are schools functioning and most importantly, have you read a book tonight?
“The children are wonderful, with great potential. I ask them, can you promise? Tonight, will you read a book? Half an hour? One hour? And they often agree.
“If parents at home monitor and encourage this, imagine a generation that reads daily over the next 10 years.
“That, to me, is the advantage of a Madani nation; not only external progress, but intellectual depth,” he added.
Anwar stressed that civilisation is built through knowledge, which is strengthened not only through teaching but also through consistent reading.
He said the book fair should not be viewed merely as a festival, but as a platform that brings together scholars, writers, and intellectuals to reflect, absorb, and deepen knowledge.
“Otherwise, it risks becoming just another festival. Malaysia already has many festivals, but this Book Fair is different, it brings us closer to the importance of knowledge,” he said.
Anwar warned that while society is increasingly exposed to vast amounts of information through social media, not all information constitutes knowledge, stressing the need for discernment, especially among young people.
He also urged parents and educators to ensure children read beneficial materials across disciplines including religion, philosophy, science, technology, and artificial intelligence, adding that poor selection of reading materials could negatively influence values and character.
“We do not want individuals who are merely intelligent in their specialised fields, but who lack humanity,” he said, adding that Malaysia must balance technological progress with human values and ethics.
