KUALA LUMPUR, 8 July 2026 – Perbadanan Kota Buku (Kota Buku) has reinforced its commitment to literacy development and international educational cooperation through the Pledge a Library programme, an initiative led by the Kalimat Foundation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The programme was officiated by Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Chairperson of Kalimat Foundation, and saw Arabic-language book collections presented to five primary schools in Kuala Lumpur as part of a wider effort to expand access to quality reading materials and promote multilingual learning among Malaysian students.
The handover ceremony took place at Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Bintang Selatan, Kuala Lumpur, which also hosted an official visit by the Kalimat Foundation delegation. Four other beneficiary schools were Sekolah Kebangsaan Convent 1 Bukit Nanas, Sekolah Kebangsaan Sentul, Sekolah Kebangsaan St. John 1 and Sekolah Kebangsaan Salak South.
The initiative marks a significant milestone in Malaysia’s efforts to broaden international literacy partnerships while introducing young readers to the richness of Arabic language, literature and culture.
Chief Executive Officer of Perbadanan Kota Buku, Puan Adibah Omar, revealed that the collaboration stems from a vision shared just two months ago during the PublisHer Forum at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy.
“The idea for this beautiful moment began with a simple dream: that Malaysian children should have greater access to wonderful books in many languages, because every child deserves the opportunity to read in the language that speaks to their heart,” said Puan Adibah. “Today, these books are travelling across borders, not as gifts alone, but as symbols of friendship, kindness and hope. This generosity reminds us that books have no borders, and they belong to every child, everywhere.”
She further emphasised the profound cultural and developmental impact these international reading materials will have on local students.
“When our students open these books, they are not just learning Arabic; they are making new friends, discovering another culture, and opening a window to a much bigger world,” Puan Adibah added. “This partnership shows us that the greatest investment we can make is not in buildings or machines, but in the minds and hearts of children. May this be the beginning of an even stronger friendship between Sharjah and Malaysia, one book, one child and one dream at a time.”
Kalimat Foundation is a UAE-based non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing children’s right to read and improving access to quality books, particularly for underserved communities around the world. Through its Pledge a Library initiative, the foundation has delivered mobile libraries containing 100 Arabic-language books to 33 countries, supporting 177 mobile libraries, distributing 30,000 books, and benefitting more than 170,000 children globally.
The visit by Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi to Malaysia closely follows the conclusion of the 35th International Publishers Association (IPA) Congress in Kuala Lumpur, hosted by the Malaysian Book Publishers Association (MABOPA) in collaboration with strategic partners under the Ministry of Education (MOE) Malaysia, including Perbadanan Kota Buku. Notably, Sharjah is slated to proudly host the upcoming 36th edition of the global congress.
The programme underscores Malaysia’s readiness to deepen educational, cultural, and literacy cooperation with international partners, while strengthening efforts to nurture a globally aware, multilingual and knowledge-driven young generation.
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