The event was disappointing to say the least. I didn't see crowds with bags of books coming out of the exhibition halls. Such a contrast to similar fairs on travel, housing or computers. The atmosphere last year was much more lively. At least there were a few well publicised book launches but the scene seems deadly quiet this time around.
What has happened to the Malaysian Book Council and the other participants in the Book Fair? Have they lost their enthusiasm in attracting more people to buy books and read. The book importers say they could never lower the price of books when the reading public is in such small numbers. There is no justification for them to lower prices based on volume discounts since there is no volume to speak of.
It is an egg and chicken situation. The reading public, at least those who makes an effort to read always argue that they will be able to buy more if the prices were at a more reasonable level compared to what is offered at present. The importers and sellers say they are not charitable institutions and have to make a small profit to continue in their business. They would point to the unfavourable foreign exchange rate and high shipping costs that will affect their bottom line.
Meanwhile, the government does not seem to be fully committed in their efforts to encourage more Malaysians to read. The tax exemption is a miserly RM500 per year. A pathetic amount when you want the public to read more than 2 books per year (the average number of books read by Malaysians compiled in a literacy survey a few years ago).
Students do not read other reading material after finishing the recommended book list for their particular courses. The IT generation prefer the internet. The internet does stimulate the reading habit in some instances but finding the books is such a hassle even in the capital city, Kuala Lumpur.
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