KOTA KINABALU — Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor has called for greater efforts to explore, research and publish books across various genres to strengthen Sabah’s book industry and foster a reading culture among its people.
He said greater emphasis should be placed on publishing works covering language, literature, culture, arts, customs and natural heritage to ensure Sabah’s wealth of knowledge, history and heritage was documented for future generations.
He said the book industry should not merely focus on producing publications for libraries, bookstores and digital platforms, but also serve as a catalyst for building a knowledge-based society.
“The book industry must also be seen as a catalyst for fostering a reading culture among the people,” he said in a speech delivered by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Isnin Aliasnih at the launch of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Sabah’s New Books by Sabah Authors 2025/2026 and the Sabah Chief Minister’s Best Book Awards 2024/2025 at Dewan Amil Jaya, DBP Sabah Branch, here today.
Hajiji also urged academics, researchers, lecturers and professionals in Sabah to produce more quality publications that could serve as references at the international level.
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He said high-quality publications would not only document local intellectual contributions and knowledge but also help establish Sabah’s legacy of progressive thinking.
“Produce works that can serve as global references, capture our great ideas and contribute directly to building Sabah’s legacy of progressive thinking.
“Continue to be prolific in your writing, in line with the efforts of Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) to elevate Kota Kinabalu as a City of Literature,” he said.
On access to reading materials, Hajiji said Sabah’s geographical challenges required stronger commitment and closer strategic cooperation between Federal and State agencies, including DBP Sabah, the Sabah State Library, Sabah State Education Department, higher learning institutions and the private sector.
He said such collaboration was essential to ensure that communities, particularly children in remote areas and islands, including Semporna, were not left behind in accessing quality reading materials.
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Expanding mobile library services and improving digital connectivity were among the measures that needed to be prioritised to bridge literacy gaps, he added.
Hajiji said the State Government was also committed to strengthening the national language and local literary works through digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
He said Sabah’s book industry needed to move beyond conventional print publications by embracing digital platforms to reach wider audiences.
“The State Government will continue to strengthen strategic cooperation with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and relevant agencies to expand grants, platforms and research opportunities for local writers,” he said.
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He added that efforts to strengthen the book industry were in line with the Human Capital Empowerment agenda under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 development plan for 2026–2030, which emphasised nurturing knowledgeable individuals with a strong sense of identity and character.
Hajiji said Sabah’s rich ethnic and cultural diversity, history and natural heritage offered valuable resources for academic and general publications, adding that the state’s unique characteristics must be explored and documented to ensure their preservation.
He also congratulated the recipients of the Sabah Chief Minister’s Best Book Awards and the local authors whose works were launched at the event.
He said writers played an important role in nurturing a knowledge-based society and driving the growth of the national book industry.
