Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed his appreciation for the extraordinary response from the people to the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KILF) 2026 which opened today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar said the presence of various levels of society including parents, teachers, educators, students, and children gave a clear signal that the culture of reading and gaining knowledge still has a special place in the soul of society. The Prime Minister highlighted that the love of knowledge should not be born solely from examinations, recognition, or promises of position, but rather from the pleasure of seeking knowledge, a concept known as lazzatul ma'rifah.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the main challenge for today's society is not the lack of information, but choosing quality and beneficial knowledge. He encouraged taking advantage of this opportunity to build a generation that loves reading, with a broad knowledge base and strong human values, for the sake of a civilized and cultured Malaysia.

Earlier, Anwar officiated the 43rd edition of PBAKL which will be held for 10 days until June 7 at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre (WTCKL). The book fair, open to the public from 10 am to 10 pm, features participation from hundreds of local and international publishers with more than 1,000 stalls.