SHAH ALAM, July 29 — The Selangor Public Library Corporation (PPAS) has strengthened its international standing after being appointed as an official sponsor of the 2027 Hans Christian Andersen Awards through a strategic partnership with the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).
Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said the appointment was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed between PPAS and IBBY at the Selangor Economic Action Council's operations room in the State Secretariat Building yesterday.
"The Hans Christian Andersen Awards represent the world's highest honour in children's literature, organised by IBBY, and are often referred to as the 'Nobel Prize of Children's Literature'.
"The official presentation ceremony will take place in Ottawa, Canada, on August 7 during the 40th IBBY World Congress, which brings together authors, illustrators, publishers, librarians, and literacy advocates from around the world," he said in a Facebook post today.
Amirudin added that the collaboration will not only strengthen PPAS's international recognition through branding and participation in various official IBBY programmes, but also create opportunities for broader global collaboration.
"It will also enhance reading culture, strengthen the children's literature ecosystem, and position Selangor as a regional hub for international cooperation in literacy," he said.
The Menteri Besar noted that the initiative is also in line with the state government's aspiration to ensure that every child has access to knowledge, education, and quality reading materials without anyone being left behind.
"I believe this collaboration will serve as a catalyst for nurturing more young people who love learning, think creatively, and are able to compete on the global stage," Amirudin said.
He also congratulated the entire PPAS team on the prestigious achievement and hopes the partnership will mark the beginning of many more successes in elevating Selangor's name on the international stage.
