Kuala lumpur: A Religious Books Publishing Council will be established to further strengthen the Islamic scholarly publishing industry in Malaysia, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Zulkifli Hasan said today. He stated that the council would unite publishers of religious books to foster collaboration, exchange ideas, and drive the development of a more dynamic and impactful religious publishing industry.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the establishment of the council comes at an opportune time, following encouraging growth in the sector, with an increasing number of high-quality works being produced by local publishers and religious agencies. Zulkifli expressed hope that Malaysian books would be exported and marketed abroad, both within Southeast Asia and in the wider international market.
He made these remarks after officiating the Baitul Hikmah MADANI Pavilion and launching a series of new publications by agencies under the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) 2026 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL). Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Marhamah Rosli, was also present at the event.
Regarding the publication initiative, Zulkifli announced that a total of 27 new titles across various categories were launched by agencies under the department during the event. He encouraged Malaysians to cultivate a stronger reading culture in line with the spirit of MADANI Membaca, aimed at building a knowledgeable and informed society. He invited the public to not only attend talks and lectures but also to read and study quality scholarly works and books to continue expanding their knowledge.
In a separate development, Zulkifli addressed the government's commitment to keeping haj costs manageable despite economic uncertainties due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia. He noted that haj costs had been successfully maintained for three consecutive years without any increase and that the government continues to explore ways to control costs in the face of inflationary pressures.