KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — The government has approved an additional allocation of RM3 million for the management of Yayasan Karyawan as well as RM2 million to fund efforts to popularise the literary works of national laureates.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the initiative was to give recognition to the national laureates and allow up to 60 new titles to be published and developed into masterpieces that can be emulated.
“We do not want the literary works to only circulate among the elite group and be kept on the bookshelves of their private libraries. Apart from Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Yayasan Karyawan is specifically tasked with increasing efforts to introduce Malay masterpieces to the public.
“I will provide whatever support is necessary because this is about the survival of the nation,” he said when speaking at the launch of four volumes of the Sayr Al-Salikin’s Masterpiece and Hikayat Iskandar Zulkarnain at the Tun Syed Nasir Cultural Centre, earlier today.
Under Budget 2023, RM20 million is allocated to the agencies involved in translation and publishing, namely Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Institut Terjemahan dan Buku Malaysia, and Yayasan Karyawan, to encourage these activities.
On the importance of empowering literary works and knowledge, Anwar said economic strength alone will not guarantee the strength of a nation, country or civilization as it requires efforts to empower culture and language in addition to rediscovering the nation’s treasures.
“To me, it is a huge task. To awaken, develop, and empower the nation, it must be based on the strength of language and culture and by rediscovering and promoting the treasures of the nation,” he said.
— Bernama
