Latest news with #DewanBahasadanPustaka
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Call to preserve Sabah's indigenous languages
Published on: Tuesday, July 01, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 01, 2025 By: Noor Zafira Zayn Text Size: Fadhlina (left) with Tun Musa during the symbolic launch of DBP's 69th anniversary. Kota Kinabalu: Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has called on the younger generation to play a proactive role in preserving and strengthening indigenous languages, particularly in Sabah where ethnic and linguistic diversity is rich. She said many young people in the state still lack fluency in their native tongues, and urged them to take up the responsibility of keeping these languages alive. 'Our main focus is to ensure the survival of various local languages in Sabah—such as Bajau, Kadazan, Dusun, Murut, Rungus, Iranun and others—by encouraging the younger generation to learn and master them,' she said. Fadhlina was speaking at the 69th Anniversary Celebration of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC),here, on Saturday. She said DBP's long-standing contribution in preserving knowledge and promoting the Malay language had reached a mature stage, and its role must now expand with stronger commitment and relevance. 'With age comes boldness—69 years is a significant milestone for DBP. The introduction of the standard framework for Bahasa Melayu reflects the government's dedication to elevate its status across all sectors, as the national language with intellectual and cultural value,' she said. Fadhlina also highlighted the role of technology in advancing language mastery and ensuring the nation is not left behind in the digital age. 'Artificial intelligence, for example, is a crucial tool in our efforts to empower language,' she said, while also expressing admiration for Sabah's many talented writers and literary figures. Quoting the Prime Minister, she said: 'The strength of a nation lies in knowledge, intellect and language—key elements in building a civilisation, embodied in the phrase 'language is the soul of a nation'. Also present at the event was the Head of State, Tun Datuk Seri Musa Aman. The ceremony also saw the launch of a biography on a notable DBP figure and the unveiling of the National Language Research Index. The event was further enlivened with exhibitions and booths featuring a wide range of DBP publications and educational materials. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Kota Kinabalu earmarked to become a City of Literature
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's capital is being earmarked as a City of Literature, with the broader goal of establishing the state as a regional hub for the arts. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif said the initiative is being pursued with the support of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and various stakeholders, aiming to make the state a regional reference point in literature and language. 'I am confident that through the various programmes implemented here in Sabah, the state will become a regional reference in literature and language. 'Many significant initiatives have been carried out in Sabah, including in my constituency of Membakut, involving secondary school students. This is a commendable effort to bring communities, especially students, closer to the values of language and literature,' said Arifin. He added that with the support of DBP, language bodies, the Sabah Institute of Assessment, and literature- and language-focused non-governmental organisations, this dream can be realised. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Poetry Essay Discourse recently, he said such programmes can elevate Sabah's profile as a literary and linguistic reference point in the region. 'I am confident we have a strong foundation, with DBP as the pillar, supported by other organisations and local poets with the potential to bring pride to Sabah on the literary stage,' he added. Arifin also said the initiative aligns with efforts to position Sabah as a destination for educational, linguistic, and literary tourism. 'I believe with the presence of friends from Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, and various states in Malaysia, Sabah has the potential to become a focal point. 'I hope the same progress will be achieved in the field of literature and language through our continuous efforts,' he said. During the ceremony, Arifin also presented prizes to the winners of the 2025 Poetry Essay Writing Competition and the 2025 Poetry Essay Humanitarian Award.
The Star
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Sabah student's stories on mental health to be published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka
KOTA KINABALU: From a quiet corner of Sandakan town to the national literary stage, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) student Mohammad Azmir Misnani is proving that even the softest voices can echo powerfully. And Azmir does this through what he does best, his writing. Through a debut short story collection, compiled in a book titled Kelopak Mawar (Rose Petals), Azmir explores deep emotional and psychological themes. The book will soon be published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Sabah after earning top honours in the 2025 AdiKarya Penulis Muda competition. Azmir, a final-year student from the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Heritage, grew up in Batu Sapi, a town better known for its fishing villages than for fiction writers. Yet his collection of stories, written with haunting beauty and psychiatric insight, impressed the jury with its honesty and bravery. 'These stories speak for the ones who suffer in silence. Kelopak Mawar was written for all those whose voices go unheard, those struggling with inner battles no one else sees,' Azmir said, referring to the book's inspiration. What makes Kelopak Mawar especially impactful is how it delicately uses elements from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as metaphors, creating symbolic characters who reflect different emotional conditions. 'The stories do not diagnose, they resonate. They are not medical, they are mirrors,' he said. Azmir added that the collection was also a form of personal healing: 'I wanted the stories to offer a kind of companionship. When people read them, I hope they'll feel seen. Maybe even comforted. Because sometimes, literature listens when people won't.' UMS lecturer Dr Yusliza Mohd Yusof, who mentored Azmir throughout the AdiKarya programme, described the manuscript as 'poetically brave and unapologetically raw.' 'This is the kind of youth literature Malaysia needs, relevant, sensitive, and aesthetically mature. Azmir's work has the potential to spark a much-needed conversation about mental health among young people,' she said. Azmir is among four UMS student winners selected by DBP Sabah for publication this year under the AdiKarya Penulis Muda initiative, which is aimed at nurturing the next generation of literary voices in East Malaysia. For Azmir, this journey from campus writer to soon-to-be published author is more than a personal milestone, it is a message. 'You don't have to be loud to be heard. You just have to be honest,' he said. And with Kelopak Mawar now blooming into the hands of readers, Azmir's words, once kept quiet, are finally finding their way into hearts nationwide.
The Star
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Books are a source of true knowledge, not social media, says Anwar
Anwar delivering his speech at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2025 on June 1. – Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is urging Malaysians to read more, lamenting a less-than-ideal reading culture in the country. "Reading has not yet become a culture in our country, and that to me is disheartening. When we speak of a Madani nation, it is one that is rooted in conviction and love for knowledge," he said. How can we claim to love knowledge if we only rely on speeches, opinions... sometimes filled with insults but not grounded in knowledge? "Reading just four lines or listening to two-minute rants on social media and forming conclusions, this world is challenging and it demands individuals with deep knowledge," he said during his speech at the closing ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) 2025 here on Sunday (June 1). Also present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka director-general Dr Hazami Jahari and PBAKL 2025 organising chairman Mohd Khair Ngadiron. The prime minister, however, expressed optimism that the reading culture could be cultivated, noting that the PBAKL 2025, which began on May 23, had received an encouraging response, recording a total of 1.8 million visitors. Citing the success of developed nations, Anwar said such countries advanced because their people possessed deep knowledge and understanding. "Look at developed countries – none have progressed while lacking knowledge," he said. Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said that efforts to elevate Malaysia as a great nation must be anchored in building a knowledgeable society that values a reading culture. He said that in the pursuit of success, there remain political leaders, professionals, technocrats and intellectuals who overlook the development of culture. "In the next five or ten years, we want to elevate Malaysia as a great nation in our region. To do that, we must be prepared to compete, to work and to truly read. "Just look at the political and economic discourse in our country… it is not based on knowledge or reading. It is driven by sentiment, anger, hatred, judgment... even religion is turned into a platform (for political gain)," he said. The Prime Minister challenged students, influencers and parents to promote the strengthening of intellectual foundations to realise the goal of uplifting the nation's stature. PBAKL, themed 'Buku: Membaca, Memimpin' (Books: Read, Lead), concluded on Sunday, offering a wide variety of events and is regarded as one of the largest book fairs in Southeast Asia. – Bernama
The Sun
01-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Disheartening that reading still not a culture in Malaysia, says PM Anwar
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged Malaysians to read more, lamenting the nation's poor reading culture which he said remains far from ideal despite ongoing efforts. He said this reality is at odds with the aspirations of the MADANI government, which is anchored on the values of conviction and a deep appreciation for knowledge. 'Reading has not yet become a culture in our country, and to me, that is disheartening. When we speak of a MADANI nation, it is one that is rooted in conviction and love for knowledge,' he said. How can we claim to love knowledge if we only rely on speeches, opinions... sometimes filled with insults, but not grounded in knowledge? 'Reading just four lines or listening to two-minute rants on social media and forming conclusions, this world is challenging and it demands individuals with deep knowledge,' he said during his speech at the closing ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) 2025 here today. Also present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka director-general Dr Hazami Jahari.
