By Zareef Muzammil
SHAH ALAM, Dec 3 — The book ‘100 Warkah 1,000 Impian Anwar PM-10‘, published by Nuha Books, has become a popular choice for visitors to the Selangor International Book Fair (SIBF) 2023, held at the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) Convention Centre.
The company’s manager Habeeb Mohd said the 224-page book, a compilation of the views of 100 Malaysians including himself, sold nearly 20 copies on the first day of the book fair on Friday (December 1).
“The book’s demand is high compared to other literary works marketed by our company as buyers want to know what 100 citizens, including myself, are voicing in this book.
“Different views from various age groups and communities are included in this book. On my part, I request the administration under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership continues to help the people,” he said.
Habeeb was speaking to SelangorKini during the fair yesterday, adding the novel ‘Salina‘ by National Laureate Datuk Seri A. Samad Said, first published in 1961 and which has been translated into 38 foreign languages, also caught buyers’ attention.
He said Samad trusted Nuha Books to publish his classic, about a woman overcoming various challenges.
“Alhamdulillah, we can market A. Samad Said’s book at SIBF. It helps him as he has not received royalties in the past three years,” he said.
Meanwhile, Inisiatif Buku Darul Ehsan (IBDE) sales and marketing officer Mohammad Hakim Mohammad Hood said nearly 100 of the 200 copies of ‘Muhammad: Riwayat Hidup Berdasarkan Sumber Terawal‘ offered at SIBF have been sold so far.
Other books, including ‘Perempuan Seribu Satu Malam,’ ‘Tatadunia‘, and ‘Sejarah Selangor‘ were also popular, with 40 copies of each book purchased by visitors.
“People keep coming to buy the book about (the Prophet) Muhammad. Perhaps they did not have the opportunity to get it before, so this time, they did so.
“If all 200 copies are sold out before SIBF ends, we will add stock to meet customer demand,” he said.
Hakim said 71 book titles from IBDE are being promoted at the book fair, with a 10 per cent discount is offered for the purchase of one or two books, while a 15 per cent discount is provided for the purchase of three books or more, including a tote bag.
Elsewhere, Guangxi Normal University Press Group’s representative Kaylie Leong said their inaugural participation in SIBF allowed them to showcase various publications from their Beijing-based company.
The company, founded a decade ago, uses the book fair to collaborate with local publishing companies in marketing their children’s books.
“Most of the books we publish are for children, including illustrated books, moral value storybooks, translation books, and books on traditional Chinese history.
“We are the only company from China participating in SIBF, so we see opportunities to collaborate with Malaysian publishing companies and bookstores,” she said.
SIBF 2023, running from December 1 to December 10 the Shah Alam City Council Convention Centre from 9am to 9pm, is organised by the Selangor Public Library Corporation (PPAS).
It features various exciting activities for visitors, including lucky draws, book sales, and attractive discounts.
First held last year as a continuation of the Selangor Book Fair, itself first held in 2006, SIBF features 225 local and international exhibitors, including those from the United Kingdom, Turkey, North Macedonia, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, China, and Egypt, among others.
Taking place at Kompleks PKNS from its inception, the fair was later moved to the MBSA Convention Centre, and has recorded nearly five million visitors to date.
