Kuala lumpur: The Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF) 2026, which kicked off today, reflects that the reading culture among Malaysia's younger generation remains strong, even amid the dominance of gadgets, social media, and digital entertainment.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, many teenagers are willing to save for reading materials, which they regard as a worthwhile investment in knowledge and their future. For Form Six History stream student Nurul Jannah Norul Khan, 19, the KLIBF is a must-visit destination, as it caters to her deep interest in history and geopolitics. Relying on her own savings, she is looking for books on the Cold War, Ottoman civilisation, and the geopolitics of the Islamic world as she prepares for the new semester.
'I have been wanting to buy these books for a long time in preparation for the upcoming second semester,' she said when met by Bernama here today. Admitting that she is still building a consistent reading habit, Nurul Jannah believes the interest should be nurtured gradually by selecting reading materials that suit one's preferences.
Meanwhile, 13-year-old Asma Imani Mohd Faiz said she did not hesitate to spend over RM200 from her Raya savings on her favourite novel at the book fair. The teenager from Gombak said her interest in reading began to develop at the age of 10 through comics, before she later turned to novels to fill her free time.
The vibrant atmosphere at KLIBF 2026 was clearly evident as visitors queued for hours at several popular stalls, with some arriving as early as two hours before opening time to secure the latest books, including Kaisar II and The Runner. For matriculation student Muhammad Amirul Haidar Mohd Aris, 19, the book fair has become a platform for obtaining additional reference materials ahead of his university studies. He spent about RM150, including on a book titled Frontiers in Image Processing and Computer Vision, as initial preparation for his studies in computer science.
Meanwhile, Wan Hasliani Wan Jaafar, 37, said visiting PBAKL has become an annual tradition for him to add to his collection of novels by his favourite authors. Bringing along an empty trolley for convenience, he revealed that he had once purchased up to 20 books in a single visit.
KLIBF 2026, which began today, offers more than 1,000 stalls that serve both as a book sales platform and as a channel for the sharing of knowledge, creativity, and innovation in the regional book industry. Open from 10 am to 10 pm, among the main attractions is the Special Gallery of MADANI Leaders' Book Choices, which features a collection of reference books as well as reading selections from the country's leading figures.
In addition, the Malaysian Scholarly Publishing Council (MAPIM) brought together 24 university publishers, offering visitors more than 5,000 scholarly book titles. KLIBF 2026 further strengthened its position as a regional benchmark for the book industry in Southeast Asia through the Asian Rights Fair (ARF), held from today until May 31, with the participation of 24 countries. Adding to the vibrancy of the event was the Children's Literature Festival, featuring activities such as colouring competitions, drawing classes, and costume showcases, attracting visitors of all ages.