By Zareef Muzammil
SHAH ALAM, Dec 2 — The Selangor International Book Fair (SIBF) 2023 kicked off today with a lively atmosphere, drawing thousands of visitors to the exhibition space at the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) Convention Centre.
Visitor Nur Aliah Nabihah Anwar, 22, said she came with two college friends to get a book written by Mustaqim Jiwa, who is known through Instagram.
“Before this, I read a lot of classic quotes shared by authors on Instagram, but this time I want to find and delve into his book myself.
“I like Mustaqim Jiwa’s words as they touch the soul, invigorate the spirit, and also include words of love,” said the Islamic Education bachelor’s degree third-semester student from Universiti Selangor.
Meanwhile, kindergarten teacher Nur Azlene Zainal Abidin, 36, said SIBF provides various reference materials for children and adults, making her job easier.
“This is my second time attending the book fair organised by the state government, and I find it necessary to look for worksheets and activity books for my students.
“Here, many choices can be made, and the prices are much cheaper than usual. So, it is very suitable for teachers out there to find learning materials for their students,” she said, adding that she has worked as a kindergarten teacher in Kuala Lumpur for the past 13 years.
For Nur Alisya Suhaili, 14, the weekend has been spent visiting SIBF to meet her favourite novel author, NSSignature, who released a novel titled Fahrin Mikael: Love and Addiction.
The Form Two student from SMK Puchong Batu 14 said she has been a fan of the author’s works since last year when she discovered them via the Wattpad app, and upon learning that the author was at SIBF, she invited her friends to get autographed novels.
“I like reading novels, especially those in the romance and family genres, to fill my leisure time,” said the third of five siblings.
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.
