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SABDA:
“This is because we will be faced with many challenges, including challenges of the hedonism culture
that emphasizes excitement produced by a variety of gadgets, technology, and the impact of a lot of
time spent either playing game or having fun without time and place restrictions. Such a symptom
also causes loss of a lot of free time which can be more worthwhile if used to read, think and
perform the Zikir. In this case, we need to strengthen our commitment, seek to address these
challenges with wisdom and foresight. This includes the developing human resource capabilities
including those of teachers and librarians, through exposure and room for their skills in the mastery
of info-communication technology applications. This will further diversify access to quality reading
resources to befit the technology of this century. I take note that the ongoing efforts to strengthen
the reading culture that has long been pioneered by ministries and agencies concerned, through the
education system, co-curricular initiatives, and ancillary programs and activities, have been actively
pursued in accordance with the times. It is hoped that similar initiatives will be undertaken by the
ministries and other agencies to jointly support and strengthen the reading culture in a holistic
manner. Ongoing studies should also be conducted from time to time to improve the literacy rate in
the country to reach a hundred percent. In addition, efforts and our ability to change the mind,
transform culture, and subsequently incorporate thinking skills in the teaching and learning process
of our education system should be manifold. To enable these initiatives to be up and running
successfully, infrastructure, facilities and preparation of reading materials should be further
improved. This includes those associated with mastery of Jawi in line with the Religious Education
Compulsory Order 2012 which became effective earlier this year. By such means, I believe we will be
able to support the desire for human development and progress based on the philosophy of Malay
Islamic Monarchy and Zikir Nation, as envisaged by my father. Finally, I pray that this conference will
be able to improve, explore and expand the role of each stakeholder agencies and thus will be able
to produce functional and practical programmes in sustaining the reading culture.”
The two-day conference brings together librarians, school principals, headmasters, as well as Mukim
and village leaders, students and individuals. Seventeen working papers will be tabled with five of
them presented by speakers from Singapore, Korea, New Zealand, Australia and Japan.
His Royal Highness's presence at the official opening of the conference reflected His Royal Highness'
strong support for His Majesty's desire and His Majesty's government effort to lift and create a
culture of reading as a practice among the rakyat and residents of this country as the catalyst for
development of the nation that will lead the country towards achieving the National Vision 2035.
Source: www. rtbnews.rtb.gov.bn
Wadah Perpustakaan Bil.4 April 2013
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