Kuala lumpur: All segments of society including the government, educational institutions, families, communities, the private sector, the media, and young people must work together to make reading a part of Malaysians' lives, said National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang. He emphasized the importance of mobilizing a national movement to achieve the goal of making Malaysia a Reading Nation by 2030.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Aaron asserted that the initiative cannot be undertaken by the government alone but requires the collective effort of all societal levels. "We want to create a society that does not just read more, but reads to understand, think, evaluate and create. A nation that reads is a knowledgeable nation, a knowledgeable nation is a competitive nation, and a competitive nation will determine the future of the country," he expressed in a Facebook post for International Literacy Day.

Aaron highlighted that the MADANI Government, through the Ministry of National Unity and the National Library of Malaysia (PNM), remains committed to expanding access to knowledge and information through various services and reading promotion programs. PNM continues to bolster services such as reference services, adult and child loans, community library loans, electronic resources, and more, alongside reading promotion and media literacy programs.

Efforts to bring knowledge closer to the people are also being pursued through the management of 506 Rural Libraries under the federal government, aiming to expand access to communities nationwide. "At the same time, the reading promotion and media and information literacy programmes will continue to be strengthened so that the community not only enjoys reading, but is also able to evaluate information wisely, responsibly, and ethically in the digital era," Aaron noted.

In his message for International Literacy Day, Aaron stressed that literacy is foundational to knowledge, critical thinking, lifelong learning, and meaningful participation in societal and national development. He called for the cultivation of reading and expansion of knowledge to build a more knowledgeable, inclusive, and united society, wishing everyone a happy International Literacy Day.

International Literacy Day is celebrated on September 8 each year, following its declaration by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1966.