KUALA LUMPUR, 29 May 2026 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced the continuation of the RM100 book voucher initiative for secondary school students under the Ministry of Education (MOE) and students at public higher education institutions (IPTA).
He said the vouchers could be used at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) 2026, which is being held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) from today until June 7.
“I want to stress we can only include MOE secondary schools and universities under the Ministry of Higher Education (for this scheme now),” he said when officiating the opening of the fair.
Anwar also urged parents to ensure their children fully utilise the vouchers to obtain beneficial reading materials.
He said PBAKL should continue to be organised to expose young people to reading and help cultivate a reading culture, particularly in today’s modern world.
In addition, the Prime Minister said the growing tendency among the public to rely solely on social media for answers to complex issues was gradually eroding reading habits.
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He also urged educators to place greater emphasis on the pursuit of knowledge in various fields, including religion, science and artificial intelligence (AI), while enhancing digital literacy among students.
Anwar said although the government was implementing cost-saving measures in several sectors to safeguard the country’s financial position, education and the cultivation of knowledge would continue to remain a priority.
He said ministries and government agencies had 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,” he said.- BERNAMA
