Author: sqkhor

The Malaysian Book Publishers Association (MABOPA) would like to express its gratitude to the Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim for announcing the awarding of vouchers to all Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 students in primary schools, all secondary school students and all higher education institution students, in his opening speech at the 41st Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair on 30 May 2024.

The provision of book vouchers will surely further enrich the culture of reading amongst young people and at the same time inject the spirit of reading in the society through book buying activities.

This book voucher program will also stimulate the publication of new books of higher quality, in line with the recommendations of the Prime Minister who wants Malaysians to have the ability to evaluate information, master knowledge and find wisdom in their lives.

MABOPA is confident that the local book industry is ready to jointly develop the aspirations of the Prime Minister and hopes that this book voucher program will continue in the future in an effort to cultivate quality reading for the development of a Madani society that is sustainable, progressive and knowledgeable.

Persatuan Penerbit Buku Malaysia (MABOPA) merujuk kepada artikel daripada laman web China Press bertarikh 22 Disember 2023 yang bertajuk: “出版商书商炮轰主办方 书展摊位早被霸占” yang diterjemahkan kepada “Penerbit dan Kedai Buku Mengkritik Penganjur, Gerai Pameran Buku Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur Dikuasai Dengan Cepat.”

MABOPA ingin menegaskan bahawa kami bukanlah penganjur Pesta Buku Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (PBAKL) seperti yang dinyatakan. Segala rujukan kepada kami dalam laporan tersebut adalah satu tuduhan yang tidak berasas.

Walaupun pihak China Press menyatakan bahawa laporan tersebut diambil daripada Malaysia Gazette, tidak ada dinyatakan sama sekali dalam laporan Malaysia Gazette yang mengaitkan MABOPA seperti yang dinyatakan oleh China Press.

MABOPA sentiasa berusaha untuk melindungi hak dan kepentingan para penerbit buku di Malaysia dan mengambil maklum akan segala aduan, keluhan, desakan, kritikan dan cadangan tentang PBAKL.

Sebagai salah satu organisasi yang menjadi ahli kepada Jawatankuasa Pengelola PBAKL (JKP PBAKL), MABOPA memanfaatkan saluran ini untuk sentiasa berbincang tentang semua isu PBAKL sama ada dengan ahli-ahli JKP yang lain atau secara terus dengan Pengerusi JKP PBAKL dan Penganjur PBAKL iaitu Majlis Buku Kebangsaan Malaysia (MBKM).

Kenyataan media bersama bertarikh 19 Disember 2023 adalah hasil perbincangan antara MBKM dengan beberapa ahli JKP PBAKL yang lain. Ingin kami nyatakan di sini bahawa pendirian MABOPA tidak pernah berubah dan sentiasa selari dengan usaha kami untuk melindungi hak dan kepentingan para penerbit buku yang menjadi majoriti kepada pempamer PBAKL. Kami berterima kasih kepada MBKM dan ahli JKP PBAKL yang mendengar, memberi respons positif dan bersedia untuk menjalankan semua penambahbaikan yang kami sarankan.

MABOPA telah mendapatkan kata putus daripada Pengerusi JKP PBAKL sendiri bahawa “Dialog ke Arah PBAKL yang Lebih Baik” yang dijadualkan pada 29 Disember 2023 ini akan menjadi satu lagi saluran rasmi untuk mendengar daripada semua pihak yang berkepentingan dalam PBAKL ini termasuklah semua penerbit buku yang sentiasa menjayakan PBAKL sebagai para pempamer.

MABOPA juga telah diberi jaminan bahawa tidak ada “pre-determined outcome of the dialogue” seperti yang dinyatakan dalam beberapa e-mel yang kami terima. Atas jaminan ini, MABOPA mengalu-alukan kedatangan semua penerbit buku ke sesi dialog ini untuk sama-sama kita berusaha untuk mendapatkan solusi terbaik bagi PBAKL 2024 dan PBAKL seterusnya. Tidak perlu RSVP, semua penerbit boleh “walk-in” terus ke pejabat MBKM, di Blok 2251, Bangunan Mustapha Kamal, Cyberjaya pada 29 Disember 2023 jam 3.00 petang.

Tamat Kenyataan
Kuala Lumpur: 23_^hb Disember 2023

The Malaysian Book Publishers Association (MABOPA) is pleased to announce our commitment as a signatory to the SDG Publishers Compact, a global initiative aimed at harnessing the power of the publishing industry to promote and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By aligning our efforts with the SDG Publishers Compact, MABOPA underscores our dedication to driving positive change and sustainable development through our publishing endeavours.

The SDGs, a set of 17 interconnected global goals, provide a blueprint for a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable world by addressing pressing challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and more. As part of our commitment, MABOPA will actively incorporate the following principles into our operations and publications:

1. Promoting Inclusivity and Diversity: MABOPA is committed to publishing content that celebrates the richness of diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences. We will actively seek out and support authors from underrepresented backgrounds, ensuring our publications contribute to a more inclusive literary landscape.
   
2. Advancing Quality Education: We recognise education’s pivotal role in achieving sustainable development. MABOPA will prioritise publishing materials that enhance educational opportunities, encourage lifelong learning, and promote literacy, thereby contributing to Goal 4: Quality Education.
   
3. Supporting Local Voices and Issues: MABOPA amplifies local voices and addresses pertinent societal issues. We will publish works that shed light on Malaysia’s unique challenges, aspirations, and contributions to the global community, aligning with Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
   
4. Environmental Responsibility: MABOPA acknowledges the importance of environmental stewardship. We will work towards minimising our ecological footprint by adopting sustainable printing practices, exploring digital publishing options, and advocating for responsible consumption and production (Goal 12).
   
5. Partnerships for the Goals: Collaboration is key to achieving the SDGs. MABOPA will actively seek partnerships with organisations, authors, and stakeholders who share our commitment to sustainable development, facilitating the exchange of ideas and resources to accelerate progress across all goals (Goal 17).

By joining the SDG Publishers Compact, MABOPA reaffirms our dedication to making a positive impact through publishing. We invite our members, partners, and the general public to learn more about this initiative by visiting the official SDG Publishers Compact website:

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sdg-publishers-compact/.

Together, we can leverage the power of literature to inspire change, promote understanding, and create a more sustainable world for current and future generations.

The Malaysian Book Publishers Association (MABOPA) expresses its deepest disappointment with the recent statement by the organizers of the Frankfurt Book Fair, who have taken sides in a war that has caused countless civilian casualties for many years.

Frankfurt Book Fair’s statement has resulted in discomfort and dismay among publishers from Malaysia at this time. It is unfortunate that divisive politics has taken center stage at this year’s fair when unity is supposed to be upheld instead.

MABOPA believes that book fairs should provide a neutral platform, and humanity should be celebrated through books and stories from all sides. Let books do the talking.

End of statement.