MALAYSIA, KUALA LUMPUR, June 17, 2025 – Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that knowledge is the backbone of a MADANI nation, with libraries, schools, and universities serving as the pulse of a great civilization. He made these remarks while officiating the 19th Congress of Southeast Asian Librarians (CONSAL XIX) this morning.
Reflecting on history, Anwar highlighted the role of great libraries like Alexandria and Baitul Hikmah in Baghdad, which gave rise to philosophers and thinkers, passing down timeless wisdom. He referenced Umberto Eco’s novel The Name of the Rose, which portrays libraries as labyrinths of knowledge, and Carl Sagan’s description of books as “proof that humans are capable of working magic” and a gateway to exploring the minds of figures from thousands of years ago.
However, he expressed concern over the fading culture of reading, with the world increasingly immersed in a culture of seeking quick reactions, where opinions are formed based on mere snippets of text.
“This breeds a culture of ignorance, fueling public discourse with hatred, deception, and confusion devoid of knowledge,” he said.
Anwar called for a revival of reading and critical thinking, urging that libraries should not merely be grand monuments but living spaces for the pursuit of knowledge, challenging ideas, and strengthening unity in a complex era.
He praised the role of librarians, citing figures like Beda Lim from the University of Malaya and Rohani Rustam from Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, who were not just curators of collections but champions of reading and facilitators of knowledge.
He noted that government initiatives, such as cash incentives for students and teachers to buy books and the expansion of digital libraries, are just the beginning. The greater goal, he stressed, is to transform libraries into vibrant spaces where people seek meaning.
“Our children must be convinced that we inherit a great civilization, from Angkor Wat to Borobudur and the Malay Sultanate of Melaka. Libraries are the bridge to this confidence, and librarians are their guardians,” he added.
