Latest news with #KualaLumpurInternationalBookFair
The Star
01-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Madani book voucher for teachers initiative starts today
PETALING JAYA: All education service officers (PPP) may redeem the Madani teachers' book voucher worth RM100 starting today (July 1) until Sept 30. The Education Ministry said to redeem the voucher, PPPs must visit the DELIMa main portal at and click on the link "TEBUS BAUCAR BUKU GURU MADANI 2025". The initiative, which benefits more than 430,000 PPPs, serves as a gift of knowledge for educators, aimed at cultivating a reading culture and promoting lifelong learning. The announcement was first made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the closing ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) 2025.
Sinar Daily
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Sinar Daily
Naturalised players a short-term fix for Harimau Malaya
KUALA LUMPUR – The debate surrounding the inclusion of naturalised and heritage players in Malaysia's national football team continues and former head coach Datuk K. Rajagobal has offered a clear and balanced perspective. He shared his insights during the launch of his autobiography, 'Inilah Saya K. Rajagobal,' at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) on Satuday. Former Harimau Malaya coach, Datuk K. Rajagobal, launched his book titled 'Inilah Saya K Rajagobal' at the Karangkraf Group sales booth during PBAKL 2025 on Saturday. Photo: Rosli Talib/Sinar 'Honestly, there's been a lot of discussion about using naturalised and heritage players in our national team setup. "In my view, they are necessary for now, but only as a short-term solution. 'What truly matters is our long-term vision. We must not lose sight of grassroots and youth development," he said in an exclusive interview with Sinar Daily after his book launch. Rajagobal, who famously led Harimau Malaya to victory in the 2009 SEA Games and the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, stressed the importance of balance and mentorship in integrating naturalised players. He described that while these players can serve a purpose in the current squad, the team needs to find a healthy balance moving forward. 'Just a few, not many, should be integrated alongside homegrown talents. This way, our local players can learn and grow by playing alongside experienced, high-quality naturalised players who can also act as mentors. 'It's important that any naturalised player we bring in has the quality and experience to elevate the team. "In the short term, yes, they have a role to play. But for the long term, the only path forward is a clear development plan, one that builds toward a national team with its own strong, local identity," he said. Assessing Harimau Malaya's Current Direction Rajagobal also offered a measured assessment of Harimau Malaya's current direction under new head coach Peter Cklamovski, who recently oversaw matches against Nepal and Cape Verde. 'Honestly, Harimau Malaya has only played two matches under the new head coach, Peter Cklamovski. "If I'm not mistaken, the first was against Nepal, and the second, just a few days ago, was against Cape Verde. 'There has definitely been progress, but at the end of the day, the coach is the best person to evaluate the team's performance. "He understands what needs to be done before the crucial match against Vietnam. As for me, I think it's still too early to draw any firm conclusions. We need to see the team play more matches. That said, the early signs are promising and I hope the team continues to build on this momentum and deliver even stronger performances in the games to come," he added. A Coach's Memoir and Life Lessons Rajagobal's remarks were made during the launch of his autobiography, 'Inilah Saya K. Rajagobal,' at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), where he was celebrated as a symbol of Malaysian football's golden era. The book, published by Karangkraf, took nearly nine years to complete and offers a deeply personal look into his life and career as both a player and coach. The autobiography recounts his early years in Setapak, his playing days with Selangor during the 1980s and his journey into coaching after initially serving as an assistant at the Malaysia Games in Sarawak. It covers key moments such as the 1979 Malaysia Cup final and Malaysia's return to glory at the 2009 SEA Games and 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup. More than a football memoir, the book was written to impart life lessons. 'This isn't just about football. It's about perseverance, about facing challenges with resilience. I hope young Malaysians will read it and be inspired,' he said. The book also came about through an unexpected collaboration with Karangkraf, which began after a chance meeting at a Sinar Daily event during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Encouraged by his son and impressed by Karangkraf's publishing expertise, Rajagobal expressed 'no regrets' about entrusting his story to them.
The Sun
02-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Teachers welcome book vouchers as support for teaching and students
KUALA LUMPUR: The provision of MADANI Book Vouchers to more than 400,000 teachers this year, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, reflects the government's concern for educators, while also aiding them in the teaching and learning (PdP) process. Muhammad Ashraf Ahmad, 36, an English teacher at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Alang Iskandar, Perak, said the initiative, introduced for the first time, brings relief after he had long used his own money to cover the cost of learning materials. 'I plan to use this voucher to buy reference and additional exercise books that can be lent to students, because when this initiative is implemented, the spirit of teaching becomes stronger,' he told Bernama when contacted. Another teacher, Tengku Flora Tengku Kamarul Zaman, 48, expressed her gratitude and described the initiative as a form of government appreciation for the role of educators in shaping the nation's future. The MUET (Malaysian University English Test) teacher at the Form Six Centre (PTE) of SMK Taman Selayang hopes the government will continue to diversify aid initiatives for teachers, as such support can also enhance their psychosocial support towards students. 'I hope the government continues to provide consistent support, not only in the form of vouchers but also through improved infrastructure and ongoing training, for the progress and development of a quality future generation,' she said. For Rabiatul Nur Athirah Ramli, 28, a religious education teacher from SMK Rahmat, Melaka, the voucher will benefit not only herself but also her students. 'The provision of book vouchers to teachers is a great honour and a very meaningful recognition, as it not only acknowledges the contributions of teachers but also motivates us to remain committed to improving the quality of our teaching. 'I intend to use part of the voucher to purchase workbooks or additional reading materials for students, especially those who are less privileged,' she said. When closing the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) 2025 here yesterday, the Prime Minister announced the distribution of book vouchers to over 400,000 teachers for the first time, in addition to continuing the voucher programme for students of Institutions of Higher Learning (IPT). The announcement was also welcomed by IPT students, who suggested several improvements to its implementation, as raised by the Prime Minister. Wan Alani Nizam, 22, a student from the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam, said the initiative helps ease her financial burden, especially in purchasing academic reading materials. 'I'm very grateful that the government continues to provide vouchers to students, as this initiative does help lighten my financial burden, especially when buying reference books and academic materials. 'To ensure the vouchers are used prudently, I suggest that the categories of redeemable books be set—such as academic, scholarly, self-development, motivational, and course-related books only,' she said. Abu Hanifah Mohamad Hanapi, 23, a student from the Faculty of Sustainable Arts and Creative Industry at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), hopes more types of educational books will be offered under the book voucher programme for easier access. 'I hope the government diversifies the types of textbooks offered to make referencing easier,' he said. Last year, IPT students received MADANI Book Vouchers worth RM100.
The Sun
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
KL International Book Fair: Platform for foreign publishers to enter local market
KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF) 2025 serves as an important platform for foreign publishers to enter the local market and attract Malaysian readers. Maria Mahat, co-founder of Ungu Pen, a Singapore-based publisher, shared that her company's participation in the fair served to introduce Malaysian readers to her company's offerings and allowed them to build closer relationships. 'At Ungu Pen, we publish a lot of Malay and bilingual Malay-English books, especially children's books. So, we want to test the market here since we are close and have languages in common. 'We don't have a specific sales target as we are still new and not well known but Alhamdulillah, there are books that have sold out and we want them to know that there are foreign publishers that publish Malay books of quality that suit readers here,' she told Bernama here recently. She also said that the books her company publishes focus on children, and are come with unique features such as the use of dyslexia-friendly fonts and digital elements such as animation, songs and augmented reality (AR), which make reading more interactive and fun. Unggu Creative founder, Dr Noridah Kamari said that she decided to join the fair for the first time this year to introduce her books to Malaysian readers and form closer ties with local writers and readers. 'We have attended KLIBF as visitors before, this is our first year as an exhibitor. We want to test the market and see how well Singapore books are accepted by readers here. 'Our focus isn't just to sales, but more towards building a social network with readers and writers, especially from Malaysia. This is because Malaysian writers are involved in our publications, such as the Kayu Api magazine that features their works,' she said. Meanwhile, Muhammad Yusuf from Indonesian publisher Gema Insani said this year was the third time his company joined the fair, and they were sharing a booth with two other publishers from home. 'We are sharing a booth together with Pustaka Al-Kautsar and Gulalibooks and we believe that the potential of the Malaysian market is big with the positive response from chidlren, students and adults. 'The books we carry, include those by famous icon Buya Hamka, historical comics and children's books, match the interest of readers here,' he said. This year's book fair bears the theme 'Buku: Membaca, Memimpin' and ends today after starting on May 23, with over 1,000 exhibition booths by almost 300 local and foreign publishers.
New Straits Times
01-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
PM makes surprise visit to MCF Chess event for grandson
KUALA LUMPUR: Amid a packed schedule, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today made a brief but meaningful stop to support his grandson, Sulaimaan Mohamad Khairul, at the Mini Chess Festival (MCF), held in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair. The thirteen-year-old Sulaimaan is competing in the inaugural MCF, organised by the Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF) and the New Straits Times Press (NSTP), at the World Trade Centre (WTC). He is taking part in the Under-18 category of the MCF Open Rapid Team Chess Tournament. Upon arrival, Anwar was welcomed by NSTP Business Development and Special Projects Manager Tengku Kaifi Mirza Tuan Cherit and Berita Harian News Editor (Features and Religion) Nazmi Yaakub. The prime minister, who spent around 10 minutes at the venue, was also seen engaging warmly with participants and spectators. His presence sparked excitement among the young chess players, many of whom took the opportunity to greet him and snap quick photos. Sulaimaan, when met, said he joined the competition organised by NSTP and MCF with the aim of winning it. The eldest of four said he learned how to play chess at the KL Chess Academy in 2020. "Every year, I also take part in chess tournaments," he said. Sulaimaan's father, Mohamad Khairul Ahmad Jahudi, 45, said he was proud and happy with his son's achievement in participating in the chess competition. He said he also wanted his son to build character and experience the ups and downs of competing. "The highs and lows, the wins and losses are valuable experiences he can carry with him in life," he said. Speaking to NSTP reporters later, Tengku Kaifi said Anwar's visit was a meaningful gesture that affirmed NSTP and MCF's efforts in promoting educational and intellectual development among youth through chess. "Chess enhances strategic thinking and problem-solving skills and is a healthy form of competition that has a positive impact on students. "As such, we feel excited, appreciated and encouraged that what we are trying to promote to the public has been acknowledged by the prime minister himself. "It shows that he (Anwar) also supports efforts by the wider community to educate students and further strengthen their thinking skills through learning chess," he said. With four categories, children, adults, open, and team tournament, MCF has attracted more than 200 chess enthusiasts of all ages, offering a total prize pool of RM20,000. The festival, held from May 28 to June 1, involves different tournaments, including the Open Blitz, National Youth Blitz, Open Rapid Team, National Youth Rapid, and Open Rapid. Meanwhile, before visiting the tournament, Anwar also stopped by the NSTP booth at the book fair, where a selection of NSTP publications, New Straits Times, Berita Harian, and Harian Metro, was available to visitors.
