Across the world, and in Malaysia, we are witnessing a quiet but overwhelming drop in reading habits.
Once the gateway to imagination, empathy and critical thinking, the reading habit is slowly vanishing from our daily lives, especially among the younger generation.
A disturbing trend is emerging, and indications are that it can be related to the advent of the internet, social media and now artificial intelligence (AI).
Market research has shown that children in Malaysia are reading less than ever before. According to World Bank data, 42% of students in Malaysia do not achieve reading proficiency by late primary age. Studies also reveal that the average young person in Malaysia spends hours scrolling through social media, but mere minutes engaging with books.
Globally, attention spans are shrinking. Some research places it at less than eight seconds for those under 20. The result? We are not only losing a generation of readers, but also a generation of thinkers, dreamers and concerned people.
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Yet, stories remain our most powerful human legacy. They help ignite ingenuity, often encouraging understanding and linking us across boundaries. If Malaysia is to thrive in a world of rapid technological change, we must bring back the culture of reading in schools and at home. We must remind our children and ourselves that books are not a luxury, but a necessity for encouraging thinking and accumulating knowledge among people globally.
This is the mission of World of Words – Kuala Lumpur (WoW-KL).
More than a festival
On 17–19 September, at Sasana Kijang, Bank Negara Malaysia, WoW-KL will launch not just as a festival, but as a long-term national movement to revive Malaysia’s reading culture.
Over three days, WoW-KL is expected to gather around 2,000 participants, schoolchildren, university students, educators, publishers, book clubs, authors and members of the public, all united by one shared mission – to bring back the magic of words.
WoW-KL is not a one-off event but rather the beginning of an ongoing effort to embed reading into our daily lives. This will happen through school book clubs, writing competitions, reading challenges and digital innovations like a “reading coin” rewards system that will allow children to earn points for reading reviews.
The goal is simple but urgent: to rebuild Malaysia as a nation of readers, writers and thinkers.
Three days, three audiences, one mission
The WoW-KL festival is carefully structured to address the different layers of Malaysia’s reading ecosystem.
Day 1: Nurturing young minds
The first day is dedicated to children and schools. There will be short story writing competitions for primary and secondary students, a writing workshop, and forums with children’s book authors who will share how stories can spark imagination.
Parents and teachers will also be engaged in conversations about the role of homes and schools in shaping lifelong readers.
For many children, this will be their first taste of seeing literature as something alive, exciting and theirs to create.
Day 2: Making literature cool again
The second day shifts its focus to university students and young adults. Highlights include a short story competition on contemporary themes, workshops and a forum titled ‘How to make literature cool again’.
There will also be panels on careers in writing, publishing and digital storytelling – showing that literature is not just a pastime but a viable, meaningful career.
University book clubs will gather to discuss trending titles and showcase books written by students. Here, literature meets innovation, and the energy of Malaysia’s young adults will take centre stage.
Day 3: Celebration of words
The final day is a celebration for the entire public. There will be author talks, book launches, panel discussions on publishing and innovation, and practical workshops on storytelling and screenwriting.
The day ends with the WoW-KL Awards and closing ceremony, where the unsung heroes of Malaysia’s literary world – illustrators, editors, bookshops, librarians and more – will be honoured.
It is a day to remind the people that literature belongs to everyone.
The people behind the movement
What makes WoW-KL powerful is not just the programme but the people who have rallied behind it. The festival will feature distinguished authors, academics and influencers from Malaysia and internationally, from psychologist Dr Andrew Mohanraj to education pioneer Parmjit Singh, to beloved storytellers like Tutu Dutta, to younger voices such as book influencer Diana Yeong and student writer Nurul Qurratu’Aini (Nino).
This mix of voices – elders and youth, educators and influencers, storytellers and academics – reflects the festival’s conviction: that reviving Malaysia’s reading culture must be a community effort.
Why it matters
The decline in reading is not just a cultural problem. It is an economic, social and national one. Nations that read are nations that innovate. Children who read grow up to be adults who can think critically, empathise deeply and create boldly. When fewer people in Malaysia read, our collective imagination shrinks.
WoW-KL seeks to reverse that trend by making reading visible, exciting and celebrated once again.
This is why the festival is supported by organisations such as FSL, the financial services library of Bank Negara, the National Library of Malaysia, the Writers’ Association of Malaysia, National Association of Private Educational Institutions and the British Council. They recognise that investing in a reading culture is investing in Malaysia’s future.
Long-term vision
The festival is just the spark. The long-term WoW-KL initiative aims for:
- school and university reading clubs that continue year-round
- national writing competitions that uncover young talent
- digital reading platforms where students can earn points (“reading coins”) and redeem them at bookshops
- partnerships with publishers and authors to create affordable, accessible content
- annual festivals to cement Kuala Lumpur as Southeast Asia’s hub for literary culture.
In time, the organisers want Malaysia to be known not just as a multicultural nation, but as a reading nation.
Taking part
WoW-KL is not just for authors, students, or publishers. It is for everyone who believes Malaysia can be more than what it is today.
Parents can bring their children and show them the magic of books. Students can join the competitions and let their voices be heard. Educators can bring their classes and reignite students’ imagination. Those who have not picked up a book in years can attend and let this festival remind them why they once loved stories.
World of Words – Kuala Lumpur (WoW-KL)
17–19 September, 09:00–17:00, Sasana Kijang, Bank Negara Malaysia
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