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Malay Mail
10-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
The cost of being a reader in Malaysia — Victoria Navina
JULY 10 — They say reading is free, but is it? In Malaysia, books are expensive, libraries are uneven, and access is shaped by income, infrastructure and class. The cost of being a reader isn't just measured in ringgit. It's measured in opportunity, inequality and culture. How much does a book cost? You walk into a bookstore in Kuala Lumpur and pick up an imported paperback on statistics — RM60. A historical narrative? RM115. If you're earning Malaysia's minimum wage of RM1,700, that's nearly four to seven per cent of your monthly income. For one book. That's your internet bill. Or a week's worth of lunches. Books aren't taxed in Malaysia, but they're not cheap. Many are imported. That means you're paying for printing, freight, import duties, logistics, distributor mark-ups and currency exchange. We don't have a fixed book pricing law, so prices vary across retailers. Discounts are inconsistent, and bookstores may be operating on thin margins. If you buy books, how likely are you to read? Buying books can predict whether someone reads — according to a 2023 study by the National Library (PNM). Among those who bought books, 97.2 per cent are more likely to read. Among those who didn't, only 17.6 per cent read. Put simply, access fuels reading. Without the ability to buy or borrow, many might simply stop. 'For sale in the Indian sub-continent only' I buy my books in India when I visit family. International publishers print low-cost editions for the sub-continent, so mass-market paperbacks cost a fraction of what we pay here. The same paperback on statistics that costs RM60 here? RM24 in India. The historical narrative at RM115? RM50. Malaysia, with its smaller market, cannot benefit from the same economies of scale. Our readers pay more and get less. The informal economy of reading When books are unaffordable, Malaysians find workarounds. We share PDFs. Trade second-hand books. Borrow from friends. Join online book clubs. Scroll through #BookTok, driving the demand for trending titles. But workarounds are not access. They demand digital literacy, time and community. They leave out those without digital access and time to navigate these channels. Only 11.1 per cent of Malaysians cite financial constraints as the main barrier to buying reading materials, but nearly 45 per cent of respondents to the PNM study say they get reading materials free, from the library or online. Another 12.2 per cent say they have to prioritise basic needs. Cost shapes access. The second-hand economy keeps books in circulation — passed from one person to another, long after the first sale. But publishers don't profit from resales. Digital books and social media-driven sales have opened new doors, but innovation can't mask the sector's fragility, with rising printing costs, weak local publishing and few incentives for independent retailers. We can't value what we don't measure In 2005, Malaysians were reading an average of two books a year. They now read 24 books a year. The infrastructure, though, hasn't kept up. The National Book Data Report reveals that the Malaysian book industry is valued at RM6 billion. Yet its share of GDP has declined from 0.5 per cent in 2015 to just 0.38 per cent in 2021. PNM's allocations for the purchase of collection materials have been cut. We don't collect comprehensive data on book pricing. The data that does exist on pricing and funding is scattered, inconsistent and often inaccessible to the public. We value the reading ecosystem very little. The people's bookstore We like to say libraries are the solution. They should be, in theory. As a child, my library card was my first credit card. But as an adult? I stopped going. The libraries I knew were cold, grey and academic. No natural light. No trees outside. Located in busy districts, away from neighbourhoods, and closed on public holidays. A public good, now a relic of an old model of education. Not part of a modern reading economy. Malaysia has about 1,431 public libraries, according to PNM. But there isn't a public map of where they all are. A list, at the very least. Most people don't know where the nearest one is. Some branches feel like archives, not community spaces. They tell you to finish your assignments, not to stay and enjoy a book. They're academic, not recreational. Reading in a park is recreational. Just read more? It isn't about whether you want to. It's about whether you can. If books cost as much as groceries, if libraries are closed when you're off work, and if the cost at bookstores is out of reach, then the question isn't why people don't read. It's what we've done to make it so hard to read. Reading doesn't begin with motivation. It begins with access. Think social determinants — income, geography, language and infrastructure. The conditions that shape whether someone can become, stay and thrive as a reader. Reimagine libraries and public spaces I lived in an old Soviet-era apartment block when I studied in Russia. The ground floor of one of the nearby blocks housed a public library — as casually as the bus stop and the grocery store. Our neighbours in Indonesia are showing what's possible. Independent libraries are thriving, cared for by individuals and communities. A design firm aims to build 100 community and climate-friendly microlibraries by 2045. Citizen volunteers have set up mobile libraries on boats, pedicabs and trains. They have understood that it is not a lack of interest, but a lack of access. So imagine this. Libraries in neighbourhoods. Not the kind filled with leftover donations, but stocked with new titles people actually want to read. Built in partnership with state libraries and publishers, open late, and close enough to walk to. Cared for through local stewardship. Picture independent bookstores renting books out — maybe on a subscription model. Or developers transforming defunct buildings into libraries that double as green public spaces and marketplaces. Today's librarians aren't just curators — sometimes they are influencers. We need to revive libraries as vital public infrastructure. As a means for economic and cultural access. It starts with imagination — and maybe by bringing back library cards. * Victoria Navina is a public health professional, a researcher and the founder of Kuala Lumpur Reads, a silent reading initiative in Perdana Botanical Garden that is now a country-wide network of silent reading communities. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Malaysian Reserve
30-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Approval of Unopposed Stipulation in PNM 2028 Resource Application
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In its open meeting held June 26, 2025, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) approved the unopposed stipulation filed in PNM's 2028 Resource Application. PNM is a wholly owned subsidiary of TXNM Energy (NYSE: TXNM). The approved resources add 450 megawatts (MW) of new solar and battery storage capacity in 2028 to serve customers and continue progress towards the zero-carbon requirements of New Mexico's Energy Transition Act, including: extension of a Valencia Purchase Power Agreement (PPA) for 167 MW through 2039 (current agreement expires in 2028), addition of 300 MW capacity through Energy Storage Agreements (ESAs) for two, 150 MW battery stand-alone storage facilities, and addition of a 150 MW solar and battery storage facility (100 MW solar, 50 MW battery storage) to be located in the Central Consolidated School District and owned and operated by PNM with a capital investment of $252 million in 2026 through 2028. Parties to the stipulation included Utility Division Staff of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy, New Energy Economy, New Mexico Affordable Reliable Energy Alliance, Western Resource Advocates and Prosperity Works. Central Consolidated School District supports the stipulation. The NMPRC order and other filings related to the application are available at Background:TXNM Energy (NYSE: TXNM), an energy holding company based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, delivers energy to more than 800,000 homes and businesses across Texas and New Mexico through its regulated utilities, TNMP and PNM. For more information, visit the company's website at Contacts: Analysts Media Lisa Goodman Corporate Communications (505) 241-2160 (505) 241-2743 Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995Statements made in this news release for TXNM Energy, Inc. ('TXNM'), Public Service Company of New Mexico ('PNM'), or Texas-New Mexico Power Company ('TNMP') (collectively, the 'Company') that relate to future events or expectations, projections, estimates, intentions, goals, targets, and strategies, including the unaudited financial results and earnings guidance, are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that all forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and estimates and apply only as of the date of this report. TXNM, PNM, and TNMP assume no obligation to update this information. Because actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, TXNM, PNM, and TNMP caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements. TXNM's, PNM's, and TNMP's business, financial condition, cash flow, and operating results are influenced by many factors, which are often beyond their control, that can cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of risk factors and other important factors affecting forward-looking statements, please see the Company's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q filings and the information included in the Company's Forms 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which factors are specifically incorporated by reference herein.
Borneo Post
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Sarawak delegation learns from Indonesia's achievements in promoting gender equality
Fatimah (third left) presents a memento to Ulziisuren. KUCHING (June 26): A Sarawak delegation has visited Jakarta, Indonesia to explore strategic partnerships and strengthen regional collaboration to empower women. Led by Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, the official visit yesterday sought to learn from Indonesia's innovative and effective approaches to promoting gender equality. 'The primary objective of the visit is to build meaningful relationships and identify opportunities for collaboration with successful women's organisations and key industry players,' Fatimah said in a statement. 'We also seek to learn from the Republic of Indonesia's achievements in promoting gender equality particularly through innovative approaches, effective development strategies and best practices introduced by the Indonesian government in empowering women across various sectors.' She said this engagement added value to Sarawak's policy framework and would contribute to impactful programmes that support women's development and leadership. The programme began at the Indonesian Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection where the delegation met with Minister Arifah Choiri Fauzi. She expressed strong support for cross border cooperation and highlighted the importance of knowledge exchange in advancing gender equality in the region. The Sarawak delegation also visited Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM) Indonesia where they met with its president director Arief Mulyadi. The delegates received a briefing on PNM's comprehensive data dashboard, which showcases real time insights into programme performance, outreach, and impact metrics. The visit offered a strategic takeaway into inclusive economic development through effective microfinance models, grassroots women's empowerment, and community-based entrepreneurship strategies. Additionally, the delegation's visit to the United Nations (UN) Women Indonesia provided significant insights into gender responsive policymaking, regional strategies for advancing women's rights, and impactful programmes supporting gender equality, women's leadership, and protection from gender-based violence. The delegation met with UN Women Indonesia country representative Ulziisuren Jasmran. The final visit was to the Indonesian Women's Congress (Kowani) where the delegation met Nani Hadi Hadjonto along with representatives from various member organisations. It is understood that Kowani unites over 100 women's organisations in Indonesia and plays a critical role in shaping public policy, promoting leadership among women, and preserving cultural values while advocating for gender equality. Among the Sarawak delegates were Deputy Ministers Datuk Rosey Yunus and Datuk Mohd Razi Sitam, permanent secretary to the ministry Datu Felicia Tan, and Women and Family Department director Salmah Jobeli. fatimah abdullah gender equality lead UN Women Indonesia
The Sun
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
PNM Book Award 2025/2026 submissions open for publishers
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of National Unity, through the National Library of Malaysia (PNM), is inviting local publishers to participate in the PNM Book Award 2025/2026, with submissions now officially open. In a post shared on Facebook, Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang announced that interested publishers must submit their entries by June 30. 'A golden opportunity for the publishing world! The PNM Book Award 2025/2026 is now open. 'Organised by the Ministry of National Unity via PNM, this prestigious award recognises high-quality works that contribute to knowledge development and the nation's reading culture,' he wrote. With the theme Perbukuan Wadah Perpaduan Negara, the award features four main categories, namely Children's Fiction, Children's Non-Fiction, Adult Fiction and Adult Non-Fiction. 'Don't miss the chance to make your mark in Malaysia's publishing history. Join now and be part of the nation's intellectual legacy,' Aaron added.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Meta and XGS Energy link to develop geothermal project in New Mexico
Meta Platforms has signed an agreement with XGS Energy to support the development of 150MW of geothermal energy project in the US state of New Mexico. Both its initial smaller first phase and its larger second phase will be operational by 2030. Both will be located on the site of the state's PNM public service electric grid. The agreement represents another step for Meta, one of the world's largest corporate purchasers of renewable energy. Meta global head of energy Urvi Parekh stated: 'Advances in AI require continued energy to support infrastructure development. 'With next-generation geothermal technologies like XGS ready for scale, geothermal can be a major player in supporting the advancement of technologies like AI as well as domestic data centre development. 'We're excited to partner with XGS to unlock a new category of energy supply for our operations in New Mexico.' The energy company's geothermal technology will be deployed to the PNM electric grid and will support the tech company's data centre operations, which are located in New Mexico. XGS's tech has separated geothermal energy production from traditional constraints by eliminating the need for specific geological conditions such as water availability or permeable rock formations. Currently, New Mexico has only one operational geothermal power plant despite having some of the most promising hot rock resources nationwide. The new project is expected to raise New Mexico's total output of geothermal electricity tenfold. XGS Energy CEO Josh Prueher stated: 'We're pleased to support Meta's ambitious AI objectives and accelerate access to new round-the-clock power supplies. 'More broadly, the state of New Mexico is a growing hub for data centre development. We are eager to feed clean, water-independent geothermal power into the New Mexico market at a scale uniquely possible with XGS technology.' Constellation and Meta recently signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to use the output from the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois, US. The deal supports Meta's clean energy objectives and regional operations by providing 1,121MW (1.12GW) of emissions-free nuclear energy. "Meta and XGS Energy link to develop geothermal project in New Mexico" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
