Publishing – In Press Global

LET’S GO THRIFTING!

by Nasuha Yahaya

Do you thrift? Who amongst you loves thrift shopping? If you do, you’re not alone. Thrift shopping started to be a new trend which helps us to save more money not only for clothing, but also for our daily items such as furniture, electronic item and many more. Living on a budget is not as frightful as one thought. When it’s done right, it helps us to save more money while looking dashing at the same time.

Thrift shops are not as awful as you thought. You will never know what kind of treasure you might find while thrift shopping. Just like a treasure hunt! Before this, a few people in this world gain an advantage as they go thrift shopping where there was an incident where a man bought a bundle of thrift cloth with a lot of money inside it.

Based on my own experience, I always discover a lot of limited edition products with a reasonable price. For example, when I am studying in Kelantan way back before, I always go for thrift shopping and one day I found one of Vans X The Beatles Yellow Submarine which had been released back in 1986. Yellow Submarine was based on the iconic song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. This shoe had been released on time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ ground breaking first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The dealer gave me a reasonable price for a good condition shoes even though it is a really rare collection.

Source from https://www.vans.com/article_detail/beatles.html

Besides that, if you want to find a good quality and original branded clothing such as Uniqlo, Zara, Topman, Champion and many more brands with a cheap price, you can go to Jalan Raja Bot, Kuala Lumpur. There’s one place that you can easily find a branded stuff as low as RM 1 per item. From my own experience, I can easily get a cute skirt from the branded brand that cost me RM 1 only. Besides that, the thrift shop itself brings so many branded clothing lines from Korea and Japan.

Jalan Raja Bot

By purchasing a new look from any clothing store, you will probably run into other people who will wear the same outfits as you. But when you are doing the thrift shop, you also can develop a unique wardrobe, where the thrift shops have a much more diverse assortment of clothing. This means you’re less likely to find yourself wearing the same top or sweater as other people. Besides that, you can expect to see completely different products at your local thrift store for one week to the next.

You may not like every item or cloth in that thrift shop but by thrift shopping, you can at least have fun looking at ostentatious, retro, or just plain bizarre merchandise in that local thrift shop.

EFFECT OF VIOLENT CONTENTS ON CHILDREN’S BEHAVIOUR

by Nurul Fathnie Rustam

Media plays the biggest role in our daily lives be it broadcasting, print or the new media, bring both negative and positive effect especially on children’s behaviour. Everything that children see or hear in the media early on in their lives affects them in certain ways. Positive parenting role models indicate that in the best interest of our children, we should limit their exposure to violent acts. However, violence is one of the most popular forms of entertainment and you can get violence genre movies or video games easily. This is what the young generation is getting themselves involved with and most parents are not paying attention in this matter as for them, when their child is happy watching anything on the screen, it would be okay. Recently, with the help of internet and the technologies, people nowadays especially young kids can access to any forms of violence content easily.

It is being said that the exposure to media violence increases the risk of aggressive behaviour on certain children desensitizes them to more violent and it makes them believe that the world they are living now is meaner and scarier place to live in. When children consume too much of violent content, it will stuck in their head and they will tend to do any violent act just like what they have seen in the media. Study shows that, performing violent acts in video games are contributing more on children’s aggression than passively watching violent acts on television. This is because in video games, women are usually portrayed as the victim and the male character can do any violent and abusive acts on the female character. Just like what the famous game such as Grand Theft Auto is portraying. It promotes prostitution, theft and violent behaviour. Thus, if the children are overly consumed of violent act like this, this will contribute to any form violent acts in reality.

Children will misbehave and it is pretty normal for a child to have occasional outburst. However, repeated disruptive behaviors may signal a behavioral problem. This behavior may include repeated arguments, tantrums, hostility toward parents or authority ﬁgures and bullying behavior such as picking on small or younger children. It also includes causing or threatening harm to pets, other people or even themselves. In older children and teens, early sexual activity, smoking, alcohol and drug use can be signs of a problem. Skipping school and lying may also indicate a behavioral problem. According to Medline Plus, if a child or teen has a pattern of hostility, aggression or disruptive behaviors lasting six months or longer, the child may have a behavior disorder. Imagine having our children spending most of their times playing violence video games, watching 18sg or 18sx rated series, surfing violence stuffs on the internet without. What is worst? When we as parents do not even have ample time to spend our precious time together with our children until we do not have the idea with what are the things that our children have been up too behind our backs.

Hence, in conclusion, as an adult be it as parents or even older siblings in the family, we should play the biggest role to keep on tracking what are the current obsession of our children or young siblings. We should know what are the games that they are playing, what kind of website they surf, who are their peers or stuff like that. It is not like we want to be overly protective, we just need to control their activities especially if it is involving any violence content. We know how kids can grasps anything that they see and listen quickly and precisely, hence we should be careful with that. Showing them violence acts via the media or video games, will only make it worst.

The Spiral of Silence

by Shikhin Sazali

Growing up surrounded by sophisticated technology and environment, might as well expand and widen the way I think about something either about myself or the world around me. However, being a young grounded teenager, I wish I had the courage to speak for myself or even the community in making the place where we live in a better place for everyone involved. Seeing myself back to the past 10 years, a shy, quite and introvert girl, how I wish someone or something would have do something to encourage me to be like today’s Syed Saddiq, the current Youth Chief of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party who has been actively involved in many organization from a very young age and very well involved in speaking up not just for himself but also for the people. I admire his confident and courage in being someone who dare to stand up for something and how well he can speak in front of the public in pointing out his belief, perspective and point of views. The theory that can be related with this is, the spiral of silence that refer to the tendency of people to remain silent when they feel that their views are in opposition to the majority view on a subject that commonly happened because of the fear of isolation. There are many simple cases that we can see happening in school for instance, how many teenagers are afraid to point out their views during a discussion in class especially when their opinions are different from the rest. This where I think teachers and parents should play their role in being the great supporters and give encouragement for the kids in being true to themselves and outshine the hidden talent. Who knows, with good practice and exposure, this could lead them to be somebody in the future. The fact that how one word or even one image could lead to a bigger change on something shouldn’t be taken lightly. How Mahatma Gandhi has now become world inspiration for stood up for his believe even though at first, no one believes and support his movement. It is great how a picture of misery and hunger of victims in the Palestine could lead to a major movement that comes from different country in sending help in terms of food and medications. It is amazing to adapt the fact how one word could speak a thousand meaning and how it can really affect one nation either for good or bad.

Enhancing the Roles of Public Relations Officer in the Government Sector During Crisis Communication

by Zayana Isa

The role of public relations (PR) in an organization is crucial especially in the event of crisis communication. The advent of new media, especially the social media that has become a new platform as the source of information has made the role of public relations becomes tougher and more challenging. Public depends more on the social media rather than getting authentic information from the traditional media where the traditional media has also competent in using new media to attract the audiences. Nevertheless, in the event of crisis communication, the role of public relations officer in the government sector seems to be less important compared to the public relations practitioners in the corporate or private sector.

In the corporate company or private sector, the existence of Public Relations Officer (PRO) is vital and significance on their reputation and corporate image. As a calibre PRO, they are the spoke person representing their company in answering all issues, especially to the media. Without doing this, the reputation of their company will be jeopardised. Atkins et. al (2006) stress that an organisation’s reputation is the general estimation in which an organisation is held by the public and other observers, based on what is known or said about it and this is the reason why it is important for a company.

However, there are some sorts of bureaucracy and the stakeholders or higher management may seem to control the priority tasks that should be done by the PRO in the government sector. There are sometimes too many layers of orders and authorization (stakeholder) that needs to go through before a PRO can start doing their work and make an important decision for the agency. It is a rare situation where we can see the PRO of any government sector go forward and become the spoke person compared to one in private sector.

In the event of crisis communication, the prompt action of communication between the stakeholders and public is required. Nevertheless, the action must be conducted ethically and morally. The PR practitioners need to be mindful and fully aware of personal, situational and relational factors in handling crisis communication, for the sake of wellbeing of the organization and publics involved.

The notion of crisis communication in future enhances the use of social media in responding to the crisis and it is relevant. In his study, Coombs (2013) posits that social media holds a high degree of interests because of the various ways in which it can intersect with crisis communication. Hence, the PRO plays major roles here in responding crisis communication through social media promptly.

Alzahrani (2016) suggested that there are three phases of roles of PRO during the crisis communication; pre-crisis phase, during crisis phase and post-crisis phase. These three phases are crucial for the PRO to verify in order to response to the crisis accordingly. Alzahrani (2016) also posits that contact is the basic of public relations in crisis management. The role of public relations in crisis management is not to understand only through the process of the contact, which represents the basis of the work of public relations (Achammara, 2008).

Irimies (2006) stressed that roles of public relations and communicator specialist is a strategic one, essential when talking about crisis communication, about the implementation of a communication plan whose ultimate goal is to overcome crisis situation and to restore the confidence in the image of culture and organization they represent. Hence, he posits that media communication; both internal and external ones are best conducted by the PR practitioners and communication specialists. In his context of research, it is proven that the PR practitioners are the best person to apply the skills of recompose, image rebuilding and reputation after the crisis.

An effective communication skill are essential in creating positive, renewing opportunities at these turning points during the crisis communication (French & Holder, 2012). Obviously, the one who are best known as having effective communication skills are the PR practitioners. Hence, the existence of PR practitioners in the communication management is vital.

The PR practitioners, especially from the government sector should prepare themselves with effective communication skills to face upcoming challenges in this new media era. As competent PR practitioners, they should come out with strategic crisis communication plan or crisis communication management, hence prompt action can be taken whenever crisis occurs. It is a compulsory for the PRO in any organization to be in the management team and this will help the PRO to be able to communicate well with the stakeholders and the public.

Overall, the roles of PR practitioners in the government sector is vital to maintain good image and reputation of the ministries/agencies they are serving for. As an excellent PRO, he/she must always be prepared with the essential skills in public relations, especially the effective communication skills. Without this, the tasks as PRO in a government sector will always be blurred and they will left behind. To enhance the roles of PRO in the government, they must come forward and act like a real PR; effective and competent.

Teaffani Gastronomy Canape Competition 2018

It’s a Wrap Teaffani Canape Competition 2018 was a successful event that was organized by Teaffani Catering on the 25^th of November 2018! They have been in the market since 2011 and was the official food caterer for the DINNER IN THE SKY back in 2017. However, this year 2018, another breakthrough for them to be organizing a Canape competition for student as part of their CSR Program under “Education and Career Development Theme”.

Congratulation to Cindy Lee Xin Yi from YTL International College for the winner of the RM 1000.00 and also a Gold Medal. Moreover, Silver was won by Umi Asmat Binti Roslan of Silverspoon International College and Bronze was awarded to Siti Hajar Binti Ali From UiTM Puncak Alam who was judged by our Guest Judges Chef Doul and Chef Sufiz. Congratulation to all the winners and a job well done to all of you, and those who did not win there is always next year!

Also, Teaffani Canape Competition was not all about Canape Competition however they have invited a guest speaker Chef Fadzly Che Omar from Gastronomy Association of Malaysia to give an insight on The Impact of Gastronomy upon Malaysian Culture. During this talk Chef Fadzly enlighten the students that being in the culinary arts field is not solely that you only can enter the kitchen. As there are other branches for them to venture in which requires people with great knowledge in culinary arts and gastronomy such as food writer, food stylist, food critique and many more.

Besides that, it is government initiative to expose and enhanced our Malaysian Cuisine to be at par with the other cuisine especially French cuisine and it can be as high standard and prestige as a fine dining quality food. Thus, this is where all students from culinary arts field task to constantly develop and enhance the quality and presentation of Malaysian Cuisine.

Lastly, Congratulation to Teaffani Catering! To be the first catering company that organized a Canape Competition to help the student get an exposure and knowledge on the Culinary field and helped broaden their horizon for their future career!

Democratization of Information – A catalytic factor towards human kind civilization or retrogression?

by Dayang Saliah Noorshamsiah

Thanks to the emergence of the internet coupled with the ICT advancement that has accelerating the pace of democratization of information and knowledge across the globe. Unlike decades ago, where information and knowledge are the privilege to certain class of people, today, it has become a necessity to all level of people regardless of their social background nor status.

Derived from the word ‘democratize’, according to the Merriam Webster, generally is referred as ‘making something available to everybody or to make it possible for everyone to understand’. Hence, in this context, the democratization of knowledge/information is where information and knowledge are available to everyone, ideas, opinions and knowledge are flowing freely. Allowing public to participate in open debate or discussion in a public domain.

The concept of knowledge itself as it is known, holds its own significance and centrality across human cultures and history of civilizations. In fact, history has proven that people in the ancient societies such as the Greek, Rome, India and Egypt built their great culture on the basis of knowledge that they had gathered about the world.

The concept of knowledge holds signiﬁcance and centrality across human cultures and civilizations. The annals of history demonstrate that people in the ancient societies of Greek, Rome, China, India, Egypt, Babylon, South America and Africa, built great cultures on the basis of the knowledge they had gathered about the world.

Hence, this phenomena of democratization of knowledge/information has certainly contributed to the development of the human kind. Again, added with the emergence of the Internet and its counterpart has indeed accelerated the widespread of this phenomenon throughout the world. There is no denying of its profound impact to human modernization and civilization. Through all the various knowledge and information available to access and obtain, giving people at large, greater opportunity to have an equal chance to success. Provenly, the social democratization of knowledge can lead to the establishment of viable global civil society helping millions of people particularly in underdeveloped nations to contribute and to share the fruits of knowledge explosion in a just, equitable and honorable manner.

However, on the other side of the coin, a question arose. How far does this phenomenon of freedom to information and knowledge access are facilitating the human kind towards modernization and civilization? Apparently, the freedom to information and knowledge also comes with consequences especially with the availability of the current technology which has facilitating the global spread of knowledge, allowing instantaneous interaction and communication across spatial dimension.

Today, there are no limit to information and knowledge. Depending on what kind of information you are looking for, you may just find it with the help of today’s technology. As simple as that. Today, even a bomb can be made from home just by using a basic household items and a tutorial from YouTube, but the consequences caused could kill thousands to million of people.

And while knowledge is significant to the social, economic and politic development, wrong information and knowledge may at the same time disrupt the existing cultures and harmonies. Propaganda for instance, the oldest persuasive communication approach that has been used widely not only in politics but also among the advertising companies, media, religious organizations and even the extremists. This approach might look harmless and a common method to further one’s agenda but with the wrong objective can be dangerous especially when it involves a bigger issue such as religious extremists or religious sensitivity. Information and messages are spread by presenting selective facts aimed to encourage particular perception among public to produce an emotional rather than rational response towards the information. Altering public mind and perception to support their cause. What make it dangerous is that it can even stimulate the people to go to any extent for the sake of their cause. That is the only example out of a hundred or perhaps thousands of consequences of democratization of information towards the society.

Such democratization of information for better and for worse indeed brought significance impact to the life of human kind. But it is all depends on us how we want make use of the emergence of this phenomenon for the greatest good of all. Whether we want to use it to ensure the well-being and progress of human civilization or to be the cause of human retrogression? The choice is in our hands.

Towards A Better Social Media User

by Razween binti Md. Rashidi

Technology is having a rapid growth parallel to the human needs as well as the demand of this modern world. It is becoming one of the tools that almost all Malaysians need as it is making life easier compared to our grandparents’ days where communication and other inventions such as computer, tabs or even mobile phones were hard to be found because of the economical state at that time. Now, everything has changed as it is impossible to meet a person without a mobile phone and the access to the Internet.

Our former Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi once said that Malaysians are still at the third-class mentality with a first-class infrastructure. In relation to this particular topic, Malaysians are given access to the Internet and we can freely browse and post anything that we like in social media such as Facebook, Twitter as well as Instagram. Since we are given such freedom, most of us tend to take all those opportunities for granted. Based on a personal view as a social media user, the writer personally sees that some of us tend to spread and post negative comments towards other people. For example, if a person has posted about his or her achievement, some of Malaysians will comment that the achievement is nothing if the person does not acquire other skills. We tend to look at the negative side of that person than praise that person’s achievement. In fact, we tend to search for something negative that the person has. Malaysian Digest 2014 requoted words by Communications and Multimedia Consumer Forum of Malaysia Chairman, Dr Elistina Abu Bakar said that Malaysians tend to neglect the things that they have to consider when sharing or posting things online. They do not think of the consequences of posting something negative that may offend other parties who have read what they have posted.

In order to have or to produce a first-class mentality, there are a few things that can be done so that social media users especially teenagers in Malaysia will be more aware about the consequences if they do not use the technologies wisely.

The first thing that can be done is by initiating an early education regarding the social media. This is where people who involved in structuring the education system in Malaysia should include an education regarding the usage of social media in moral subject syllabus for instance. They should know when teenagers started to expose or involve themselves in social media such as Facebook, Twitter as well as Instagram. By knowing that, they can plan on what are the things that can be included in the syllabus. We are in a world where almost everything is having rapid changes. Moral class should expose a situation that is more than just by helping a mother to do the house chores at home. Most of the students have started to engage in an “online” world. They often triggered to explore everything by themselves. So, if there are no guidelines, they may be free to explore and express whatever they want.

In addition to that, another aspect that should be touched on in shaping the children’s mentality in using social media is the parents themselves. Parents is often associated with the behaviour of the children. Hence, it is very important for them to get to know the daily activities of their children whether online or offline. There is no such thing as parents should not be busybody. When parents want to know the activities of their children, it is not called busybody as parents are people who should be respected and they have the right to know the activities of their children. It is important for parents to make sure that the children are like their best friends but they can respect and listen to you at the same time. In relation to the topic, what parents can do to make sure that their children are using social media in a right way is by having a regular check on them. Ask them in the most convincing way in order for them to share with us what they have read or posted in social media. If there are something wrong that we want to correct them, do it in the most professional manner so that our action will not trigger the anger inside the children.

Another reason why parent’s role is important in shaping the children to have a first-class mentality in using social media is because a quiet child at home may be the loudest person online. Hence, it is very important to get to know the children inside and out. Sometimes, we can see that everything is fine on the outside but we should not let them keep everything to themselves and choose social media as a medium to express their anger as well as dissatisfaction.

In conclusion, if all Malaysians tend to post negative things online all the time, foreigners will have a bad reputation towards us as we are not aware of what we have posted online. Hence, in order to have a first-class mentality, we should start using the social media wisely and avoid posting something that can lower down our dignity. Think of the consequences and only post or share something that you really understand.

Parents do play an important role in shaping the children’s behaviour online as mentioned above. We better be safe than sorry. Besides that, it is advisable for all users to be extra careful when dealing with online community. This is because we just look at the online personality of a person instead of their real self. Let’s work towards being a social media user with a first-class mentality. Start shaping ourselves to be one and if other users are using it negatively, why don’t we start using the facilities wisely. Let us portray that we Malaysians are on our way to be a nation with a first-class mentality.

Learning with Mobile Phone

by Hariz Zakuan Zainal

Since mobile phones’ explosion in quality, many colleges have resisted or perhaps illegal, their use within the room. However, associate in nursing increasing variety of educators are currently turning to cell phones so as to bolster students’ engagement and learning. While mobile-phone use ought to be restricted to things wherever the technology genuinely enhances instruction, the advanced practicality of today’s cell phones makes them ideal for 21st-century lessons. For instance, many colleges use the devices to poll students at school via text messages. “If I tell [students], ‘Okay kids, do away with your cell phones, we’re visiting poll in our answers for variety 7—everybody plow ahead and text,’ i purchase ninety to one hundred pc participation,” New Milford (NJ) high-school mathematics teacher Jeff Fiscina told CBS big apple. As additional and additional faculties adopt a mobile-friendly room philosophy, opportunities to use the devices are increasing.

Cell phones are completely different from a PC science lab full of computers or a cart of netbooks as a result of the cellular phone is personal technology. Most students have endowed a good deal of your time learning regarding the options of the cellular phone, the way to navigate and also the limitations of the phone. The opposite reason to essentially rethink the cellular phone discussion is a result of learning on the cellular phone will extend on the far side the walls of the college or the scope of a category amount.

Some folks might want to ban cell phones from school rooms, however I disagree. We tend to didn’t ban pens in our faculties as a result of students will pass notes throughout category. The pencils have conjointly survived while you’ll poke somebody within the eye and also the quantity of paper that’s generated in most colleges is sort of criminal. This can be a brand-new time in education and with dwindling budgets, thus we’d like to rethink potentialities, stretching each dollar. These mini computers are walking through the doors every day, let’s place them to figure. Before you think about making an attempt any of those ideas, do confirm that you perceive the policies that are in situ and you have checked along with your administrator.

Some faculties encourage students to use their phones’ cameras to snap photos to be used as inspiration in art categories. Others enable students to capture pictures of a post-lecture whiteboard. In seconds, children will grab an in depth image of a teacher’s notes on the board and email it themselves, leading to an out of this world study tool. On field visits, students will participate in scavenger hunts by snapping photos of things on a teacher-supplied list.

Mobile phones can even facilitate category discussion. Lecturers may raise students to run a Google look for data on a specific topic. An alternate to presenting the data via lecture or having students browse it from a textbook, discussion-integrated internet searches are doubtless additional partaking, increasing the percentages that students can retain the data. At museums, children will use their phones to seek out further exhibit data that they then enter on a visit activity sheet. Yet one more idea: The bold tech-savvy teacher will use his/her transportable to access any variety of classroom-appropriate websites. As today’s cell phones are effectively miniature computers capable of browsing full versions of websites, lecturers will leverage these resources into a whole-class session.

Liberation : Media and Casual Sex Culture

by Nur Baizura Bt Roslan

The media in Malaysia has some of the toughest censorship laws bounded whereby the media authorities exerts a substantial control and impose a strict restriction in national security. The Malaysian government is kept to insulate the majority Muslim population from the things that are considered harmful and have foreign influences. For example, the News is censored, and entertainment output can fall foul of the authorities. However, all these do not stop the population to get influenced by the international media, especially towards the explicit content that has widespread produced. With high advance of technology, the media is able to be captured and retrieved by the citizen easily. One of the influences brought by the international media especially western countries are the hookup culture has emerged from more general social shifts taking place during the last century. As early as 1920s, with the rise of automobile use and novel entertainment venues throughout North America, traditional models of courting under parental supervision began to fade. Young adults became even more sexually liberated in the relationships. In addition to that, with the rise of feminism, growth of college party events, widespread availability of birth control (condoms and oral contraceptives) and deposing of parental expectations as central to mating and marriage. Popular media, including television, has become a source of sex education, filled with (inaccurate) portrayals of sexuality. Many popular representations suggest uncommitted sex or hookups, can be both bio-physically and emotionally enjoyable and occur without “strings.” Recent entertainment media have highlighted uncommitted sexual encounters and the more-common-than-not experimentation with this type of behavior. The film Hooking Up, released in 2009, details the chaotic romantic and sexual lives of adolescent characters. The film No Strings Attached, released in 2011 and staring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher, featured the uncommitted element of uncommitted sex as two friends attempt to negotiate a sexual, yet non-romantic, component of their relationship. Popular television shows often portray hooking up as acceptable, entertaining, and perfectly sensible. The hit British series Skins, which began in 2007 and was remade in North America in 2011, often highlights the uncommitted sexual exploits of adolescents. The popular reality show Jersey Shore, which started its run in 2009, glorifies hookups among strangers, acquaintances, friends, and former partners. Popular pro-hookup same-sex representations have also emerged in television series like Queer as Folk and The L-Word. Several popular books on hookups have hit the shelves with unscientific yet racy claims. These include, The Happy Hook-Up: A Single Girl’s Guide to Casual Sex, The Hookup Handbook: A Single Girl’s Guide to Living It Up, Hooking Up: A Girl’s All-Out Guide to Sex and Sexuality, Making the Hook-Up: Edgy Sex With Soul, and 11 Points Guide to Hooking Up: Lists and Advice About First Dates, Hotties, Scandals, Pickups, Threesomes, and Booty Calls.

In a conclusion, the hook up relationship has been a culture or ethics in the western countries, whereby the young teenagers think of sex rather than the essential of the relationship. They are more comfortable in the terms of hooking up rather than pure love. Even though these often happen in the western, but, as a country who easily adopted with the western media will slightly influenced our youngster to behave that way. There are alot of teenagers and youngster begins these type of relationship which later leads to unmarital sex, illegitimate, foundling abortion and others.

Malaysia’s Publishing Industry: Through Notorious Evolution

Written by Nur Dalila binti Rusilan

Lately, the publishing industry has started to gain back its popularity through the advancement of digital technology, all thanks to social media platforms! It is guaranteed that many of the industry players use these tools to market their books. In Malaysia, the awareness and enthusiasm of producing books are exhaustively in tight competition with other markets. One of the notable events that showcases the Malaysian books internationally is the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Frankfurter Buchmesse or Frankfurt Book Fair is one of the largest book exhibitions. This event is held annually and the media industry from different countries around the world will be invited to negotiate a business deal or to look for inspirations. Materials ranging from novels, children books to film and games will demonstrate their most advantageous features during the event. As said by Claudia Kaiser, the FBF Business Development Vice-President, “Malaysian book titles will be a key attraction at this year’s event”.

During the 2017 FBF forum, Director of National Book Council Malaysia, Abdul Wahab Ibrahim, who is also the Head of Malaysian Delegation to FBF said that it was a business opportunity in match-making with international publishers including Turkey, Vietnam and Taiwan. Surprisingly, the Malaysian delegation achieved their goal by sealing more than 8 million sales contract deals. What’s more exciting is that four Malaysian books have made it to the final list. It was definitely the highlight of the event and the proudest moment for Malaysia.

**Author:** Zamri Mohamad.
**Publisher:** Legacy Publishing.
*Image source: Google*

**Author:** Herman Abdullah.
**Publisher**: ITBM
*Image source: Google*

**Author:** Mat Luthfi. **Publisher:** PTS
*Image source: Google*

**Author:** Wael A Yousef Mousa.
**Publisher:** Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
*Image Source: Google*

Besides that, the event became more momentous when its 2017 theme was Faces of Malaysia. It showcased the Culture of Mah Meri, where a group of Orang Asli tribe was exclusively flown from Carey Island, Banting to Frankfurt, which eventually became an attraction for international exhibitors. With over than 31 Malaysian publishers, they have listed a few book titles that have the potential to win this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair, which will be held for five days from 10th-14th of October 2018. What makes Malaysia more thrilled with this year’s participation is that they were invited by the representatives of London Book Fair, Seoul International Book Fair and Turkey Book Fair to participate in their country’s book festival this year.

“The future of Malaysia’s book industry looked promising”, said by Arief Hakim Sani Rahmat, Vice-President of Malaysia Publishers Association during the forum prelude in FBF 2017. It is said over 70% of Malaysians are categorized in “working age” and deemed as educated mainly because they read book for self-development and to educate their child. However, local publishing brands should strengthen more on the quality of the books to encourage more Malaysians to buy and grow interest in reading it. As a matter of fact, the industry should be given more financial inducement in the upcoming budget because the number of young Malaysian authors, writers and illustrators are growing and has caused an increase in sales value record in the industry.

In case if you are wondering, while we are enjoying this little treat, other local publishing companies are dying to survive and make up their best outcome for the consumers. This year, the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair will come out with all sorts of activity and optimistically welcome more visitors to look around for fresh new publications. The event will be launched in two weeks time, starting from 27th (Friday) until 6th May (Sunday) 2018. So, what are you waiting for, book-lovers? Let’s support and celebrate our local brands!