Reading 8 books per year ???

The habit of reading should be cultivated from young by making books more accessible to children.

ACCORDING to a report undertaken by our National Library, Malaysians are now reading eight books on average per year. It is truly heart-warming to know that their reading habit has improved.

Reading definitely is one activity to be undertaken during leisure times. Many may argue that it is difficult to find time to read. I believe the time for reading can be found.

For example, we can engage in books, magazines and newspapers while waiting for a bus, LRT or train; while waiting to get a haircut; while waiting to fetch our children from school or spouse from office, and while queuing up to pay bills. It is a conscious effort to make reading our habitual activity from young.

It is sad to note that many young ones are not reading. Instead, they are always seen fiddling with their handsets. In fact, technological developments are hampering our thirst to read. We should emulate Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, both of whom are avid readers.

Schools can do more to make reading a useful hobby and habit among our children. Surely parents can also lend a helping hand. One way could be by buying books for children as birthday gifts, rewarding them with books when they do well in exams and taking them to bookshops and libraries to browse or read there.

Reading is truly a gratifying and pleasant experience. Let's make reading a passion among our children so that our nation is filled with citizens reading whenever time permits them.