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Future Lies In Reading
By Lyna Mohamad

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Brunei Book Fair 2007 can be a platform to educate and instil the habit of reading amongst the community that, God willing, will produce dynamic, innovative and creative citizens for the country in the future.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Awg Hj Mohammad Hj Daud, also called for improvements to local books in order to compete with foreign publications.

Carrying the theme "Buku Memperkasa Bangsa" (Books Empower the Nation), the six- day Brunei Book Fair 2007, organised by the Language and Literature Bureau, was officially opened yesterday by the minister at the Hassanal Bolkiah Indoor Stadium.

About 45 publishers/companies, both local and from Asean countries, are participating at the book fair that has 98 booths.

The minister said that the book fair is one of the nation's agendas in support of

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam's titan calling for a life-long acquisition of

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knowledge, to safeguard its interests and foster an intellectual community that is informative, visionary and successful in every field for the development of the nation and religion.

Efforts made by the bureau in organising the event should be lauded as this is part of its core strategy in spreading awareness about a reading culture among the community, which could boost the economy, local and foreign publishers and also attract foreign visitors, said the minister.

What is of most importance is that every exhibitor provides as many quality books as possible in the subjects of economy, science, ICT, administration, management and business that could transform the country into a knowledgeable nation, thus achieving the objectives to empower the nation's capabilities in all fields, the minister added.

"In achieving the objectives of attracting interest and encouraging the community, in particular the youth and children, to gain knowledge, the bureau needs to add aesthetic values to its books that can compete with foreign publications and at the same time penetrate the international market," Pehin Awg Hj Mohammad said.

The minister also saw the need to set up a Book Club to nurture youth and children to appreciate books and thereby empower the reading culture.

Apart from launching and selling books and other publications, the book fair is also aimed at bringing together book dealers, distributors, publishers, illustrators, librarians, students, book enthusiasts and the general public to enhance greater appreciation of books.

Also present at the opening yesterday were several senior government officers, foreign envoys to the country and representatives from Asean publishing firms.

The minister also toured the exhibition and took time to enquire on the various educational products on display.

The book fair is open to the public daily from 8.30am to 10pm, while on Friday it will be open from 9 to 11.30am and 2.30 to 10pm. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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