Describes the work of the National Language
and Literature Development Agency (Dewan
Bahasa dan Pustaka: DBP) in the promotion of
literacy and reading in Malaysia. Although
Malaysia has a fairly high literacy rate and a
good educational system, the reading habit
has not developed as it should. A national
reading campaign was launched in 1980 to try
to improve the situation. The DBP is involved
in publishing, book promotion, book
distribution and extension activities aimed at
increasing the amount of literature available in
Bahasa Malaysia and developing the reading
habit among Malaysians. It offers incentives
to authors and maintains a special library.
There is still a need for a more perceptive
understanding of the reasons for the lack of
the reading habit in Malaysia.
