Credit : Erwin Khairul Ahmad's X
Information Department of Malaysia (JAPEN) Director-General Erwin Khairul Ahmad has credited his late mother for planting his love of reading, sharing the personal story during a special talk session held in conjunction with the JAPEN Resource and Photography Centre (PSF) Open Day 2026 on October 26, 2026.
Erwin shared on X on October 26 that he spoke at the “Bicara Ikon: Bacaan Kegemaran Saya” (Icon Talk: My Favourite Read) session, where he talked about what inspires him to read and highlighted The 48 Laws of Power by American author Robert Greene as one of the books he holds dear.
“Minat membaca saya berakar daripada Allahyarhamah ibu,” he wrote, which translates as “My interest in reading is rooted in my late mother.” He added: “Dalam Sesi Bicara Ikon: Bacaan Kegemaran Saya sempena Hari Terbuka PSF JAPEN 2026, saya berkongsi inspirasi membaca dan buku The 48 Laws of Power karya Robert Greene,” meaning “In the Icon Talk: My Favourite Read session in conjunction with the JAPEN PSF Open Day 2026, I shared my inspiration for reading and the book The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.”
Photographs attached to the post show the Director-General holding up a copy of the book in front of a screen bearing the “Hari Terbuka Pusat Sumber dan Fotografi” (Resource and Photography Centre Open Day) banner, dated Monday, October 26. Other images show him seated on stage with a microphone during the talk, addressing a full room of staff and guests from the front, with a “Jom Baca” (Let’s Read) banner visible at the side of the venue, and posing for a group photograph with participants, many of whom gave a thumbs-up.
The 48 Laws of Power, first published in 1998, is Robert Greene’s best-known work. The book draws on historical figures and events to set out principles about influence, strategy and human behaviour, and it has remained widely read among people working in leadership, politics and communications.
JAPEN’s Resource and Photography Centre houses the department’s reference materials and photographic records, and its open day is aimed at bringing staff and visitors closer to the centre’s collection while encouraging a reading culture. JAPEN resource centres have previously taken part in nationwide reading initiatives such as “Jom Baca Bersama 10 Minit” (Let’s Read Together for 10 Minutes), held in conjunction with World Book and Copyright Day.
Choosing a book about power and persuasion is a fitting pick for the head of the government’s main public information agency. JAPEN officers are tasked with explaining government policies directly to the public through field outreach, community programmes, publications and digital channels, work that depends heavily on understanding audiences and communicating convincingly.
Erwin was appointed as JAPEN’s Director-General on June 23, 2026, becoming the 20th person to lead the department since it was established in 1945. He began his public service career as an Information Officer in 2001 and has more than 25 years of experience in strategic communication, issue management and cyber media.
Before his appointment, he held several senior posts, including Director of JAPEN Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Secretary of the Strategic Communication Division at the Ministry of Communications and Deputy Director-General (Digital Content) of JAPEN. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication (broadcasting) and a master’s degree in media and information studies from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), and is also Vice President of the Institute of Public Relations Malaysia (IPRM).
His personal reflection on his mother’s influence struck a warm note at the event, underlining the message that a love of books is often nurtured at home long before it is carried into one’s working life.
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