MCYS SET TO LAUNCH ‘MUKIM BUKU’
MCYS Minister Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj
Abdullah said at the launch of Memperkasa Budaya Membaca 2013 (Empowering Reading Culture
2013) on 10 Jan 2013 that reading stimulated the mind and helped to engender a better
understanding of the world.
IN AN effort to cultivate a culture of reading, a programme titled Mukim Buku will soon be launched by
the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS).
"The Mukim Buku aims to expand the role and responsibilities of the Language and Literature Bureau
(Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka) to cultivate a 'culture of reading' in society (so the public will) be more
knowledgeable, skilled, informed and not be left behind on global issues," the minister said.
The programme will be set up in Mukim Sungai Liang and Mukim Gadong, adding to the existing
reading infrastructure in the district and community libraries, YB Pehin Dato Hj Hazair said. Mukim
Sungai Liang, Mukim Gadong initial base for reading programme.
The minister stressed that reading should be a cultural not a habitual exercise.
Through reading, society will be able to uphold and implement His Majesty the Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam's titah on raising the importance of knowledge in the population for the
development of the country and the achievement of Vision 2035.
The minister said a culture of reading would be an important "ingredient" in the country's aim of being
progressive.
"Through a reading culture, the nation will be able to obtain wisdom, taqwa (obedience to Islamic laws
and fear of Allah SWT), prosperity and safety. It will also be able to stimulate creativity and
innovation."
The minister added that the beauty of reading was that it could be done virtually anywhere.
"Even more so in this day and age, knowledge can be acquired by reading either the printed or the
electronic word (blogs, Twitter and much more) it's all at our fingertips. If we read more, we will be in
closer proximity to the outside world, a world without borders."
The minister acknowledged that promoting a reading culture would face challenges and it would be a
"journey" that required the involvement of many different stakeholders. "Libraries need to take into
account the development of social and electronic media that can attract people to reading," he said.
"In this context, there is no one method and approach that will suffice."
The Empowering Reading Culture 2013 is being implemented by Jabatan Dewan Bahasa dan
Pustaka through Bahagian Perpustakaan (library section) and designed to instil a fondness for
reading to create a society that is knowledgeable, informed, visionary and progressive for the good of
the nation as a whole.
Some of the winners for libraries and reading corners from yesterday's event included Dewan Bahasa
dan Pustaka Pandan Kuala Belait, Rumah Panjang Lepong Baru Semabat, Mohamed Bolkiah
Mosque Kg Serusop, Kg Danau mosque in Tutong, Dato Mohd Yassin Primary School, Paduka Seri
Begawan Science College and the Ministry of Defence to name a few.
Source: The Brunei Times, 11 Jan 2013
Wadah Perpustakaan Bil.1, Jan 2013
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