The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) has strengthened the nation’s knowledge culture agenda and expanded public access to academic publications through its successful participation in the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF) 2026, which concluded yesterday.
In a statement, the ministry said the Malaysian Scholarly Publishing Council (MAPIM) Pavilion, which brought together university presses and local scholarly publishing organisations, recorded sales of 16,431 books throughout the 10-day event.
The achievement involved 24 university publishers showcasing a wide range of scholarly, academic and general-interest publications authored by academics, prolific writers, industry practitioners, influencers and national leaders.
According to MOHE, the pavilion also attracted approximately 14,000 visitors, reflecting sustained public interest in scholarly publications and reinforcing MAPIM’s role in bridging the gap between academia and the wider community.
The pavilion featured more than 10,000 book titles spanning various fields of knowledge, making it one of the key attractions at this year’s book fair.
Beyond promoting academic publications, MOHE also provided a range of public services and consultation sessions covering admissions to public universities, polytechnics, community colleges and MARA higher education institutions.
Visitors were also able to obtain guidance on UPUOnline applications and appeals, National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans and repayments, SSPN savings schemes, Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL), as well as scholarships, financial assistance and education sponsorship programmes.
The ministry said the strong turnout of university students, many of whom utilised the government’s book voucher initiative, contributed positively to sales and helped stimulate the local publishing ecosystem during the event.
At the same time, MOHE’s emphasis on digital publishing and open-access initiatives was aligned with the national higher education digitalisation agenda, ensuring knowledge can be accessed more widely and inclusively.
The ministry said the success of the MAPIM Pavilion at KLIBF 2026 demonstrated the continued relevance of academic publishing as an important platform for knowledge dissemination, community engagement and the development of a knowledge-based society in line with the aspirations of Malaysia MADANI.
-EDUCATION TVET ASIA