KUCHING: Malaysia needs to establish a national book database as an important step in empowering the production of quality Malay-language works and advancing the local book publishing industry.
Datuk Dr Jeniri Amir, a member of the Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka (DBP) Management Board, stated that it would serve as a source to provide accurate and verified references on books published in the country.
“At the same time, this database would help the book industry and the general public to find relevant information sources and facilitates information access.
“This step supports the publishing industry as it can provide important information for monitoring and analyzing current trends. It can also be used as a basis for strategic decision-making in the development of new books,” he said.
Fellow Senior Fellow of the National Professors Council emphasized this during the presentation of the paper titled “The World of Book Publishing” at the National Malay-language Book Publishing Seminar inaugurated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
He added that the National Book Data would also assist in management and development by encompassing data related to comprehensive studies in the publishing world, including reading interests and allocation records from the government, government-linked companies (GLCs), and book publishers.
“For example, the achievements of Spanish author Corin Tellado, who successfully wrote over 4,000 books and printed 400 million copies. Are there people in Malaysia who write that much? We need records for such statistics as an incentive for writers,” he emphasised.
Furthermore, he stressed that all stakeholders, including the National Library of Malaysia, the National Book Council of Malaysia, the Ministry of Education Malaysia, and many others, need to pool their efforts and strengthen cooperation as a unified team to invigorate the industry.
“The community of writers needs to be strengthened through the organisation of workshops or periodic writing courses to nurture and hone the talents of writers from various ethnicities writing in Malay.
“The government and other stakeholders also need to offer grants or scholarships for these writers to facilitate their writing and publishing of books that align with current developments and buyers’ preferences.
“In addition, the country needs to produce entrepreneurial writers. How many writers in this country have become rich and become millionaires? How and what kind of books can make them millionaires,” he explained.
He further stated that the government should provide financial incentives such as grants or special loans for publishing that support the development of the Malay-language book-writing ecosystem.
“At the same time, developing the industry’s infrastructure involves creating more publishing houses, providing facilities and technical support such as printing and marketing for publishers, including self-published authors.
“It also strengthens marketing through various digital platforms by establishing an efficient distribution network to ensure that Malay-language books are easily available in the local and international markets,” he said.
He also suggested that stakeholders use social media and digital advertising to promote and market books to a wider audience, as it is believed to enhance marketing campaign performance.
“This includes collaborating with suitable influencers or bloggers and conducting feedback analysis on the types of books that are in demand, the best time to upload, and other factors to adjust book-selling strategies.
“Organizing social media campaigns that promote the importance and culture of reading and appreciation of works in the Malay language is also one of the necessary strategies,” he added.
He also recommended creating more book awards to encourage the production of quality works, enhance the quality and innovation of writers, and strengthen the publishing industry.
