KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced the continuation of the RM100 book voucher initiative for secondary school students under the Education Ministry (MOE) and students at public higher education institutions.
The vouchers can be used during the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF) 2026, held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur from today until June 7.
“I want to stress we can only include MOE secondary schools and universities under the Higher Education Ministry (for this scheme now),” he said when officiating the fair's opening.
Anwar also urged parents to ensure their children fully utilise the vouchers to obtain beneficial reading materials.
KLIBF should continue to be organised to expose young people to reading and help cultivate a reading culture, particularly in today's modern world.
He added that the growing tendency among the public to rely solely on social media for answers to complex issues was also gradually eroding reading habits.
As such, educators should place greater emphasis on the pursuit of knowledge across various fields, including religion, science, and artificial intelligence, while enhancing students' digital literacy.
Although the government is implementing cost-saving measures in several sectors to safeguard Malaysia's financial position, education and the cultivation of knowledge will remain priorities.
Ministries and government agencies have also been instructed to reduce unnecessary spending to ensure the national economy remains strong.
“All ministries are important, and all priorities matter, but under the current circumstances, everyone must act wisely and prudently. We need to understand the challenges, address weaknesses, reduce unnecessary costs and, at the same time, set clear priorities,” Anwar said.
