Hundreds Of Students Troop To Book Fair
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - Hundreds of students from various schools nationwide yesterday morning showed their overwhelming interest in reading materials at the Brunei Book Fair 2005 held at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah Sports Complex in Berakas.

They came from Sekolah Rendah Maharajalela, Mentiri; Sekolah Rendah Mata-Mata, Gadong; Sekolah Rendah Penanjong, Sekolah Luqman Darussalam; Sekolah Taman Didikan Tadika Jaya; Sekolah Rendah Hj Tarif; Nusa Laila Puteri School and Sekolah Tangga Gemilang.

The accompanying teachers said the students were encouraged to visit the book fair, which aims at inculcating the reading culture among the younger generation.

"The learning process through reading is very important and it should start in early childhood," they said.

"The children are brought to book fairs so they will understand the importance of reading in order to gain knowledge from books."

Another teacher said that knowledge as a powerful `tool' and `weapon' is universally acknowledged, especially now that "we are living in an era where `knowledge society' and `knowledgee economy' are, the in-thing".

"This can be seen even from the very first revelation to Prophet Muhammad, in that it contains the directive for Muslims to `read"'.

"This instruction could be interpreted as pertinent as reading has been established as the key to knowledge. For Muslims, this should be seen as an important cue to learn as much as possible in all imaginable disciplines," said another teacher.

Apart from buying books and magazines, some lucky students also won prizes in quizzes which were held throughout the day.

Meanwhile, Siti Zaleha Hj Kaprawi, the Public Relation Officer of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, said that the collection of tsunami poems written by 64 local poets as well as illustrations by DBP graphic artists will be further reduced to $2 per copy for today only.

Entitled 'Episod Tsunami: Peringatan Ilahi (Sebuah Iktibar dan Pengajaran)', the book normally costs $4 each.

All proceeds from the sale will go to the National Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund.

She said a story-telling workshop will be held at the Activities Room this morning while a theatre performance by the Kelab Rakis Universiti Brunei Darussalam will take place in the evening at the main stage. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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