KUCHING: The Premier of Sarawak’s Best Book Award is expected to encourage more Sarawakians to take up writing and publishing while strengthening the state’s literary ecosystem.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the award reflected the Sarawak Government’s commitment to supporting quality publications and encouraging more people to share their knowledge and experiences through books.
He said the increase in the prize money, from RM8,000 to RM15,000 for the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Publication category, and from RM5,000 to RM10,000 for the External Publisher category, was not merely about providing greater rewards to winners, but demonstrated the government’s confidence in writing and publishing as a strategic investment.
“The increase reflects the confidence of the Sarawak Government that writing and publishing are a strategic investment in building a knowledgeable society, while encouraging more quality works to be published,” he said at the award ceremony held at Raia Hotel and Convention Centre here on Friday night (Sept. 25).
Awang Tengah said the recognition provided by the award should motivate more Sarawakians to produce their own works.
He stressed that aspiring writers did not necessarily need to be professionals, as anyone with valuable knowledge or experience could contribute to the state’s body of written works.
“Someone who has knowledge, experience and something valuable to share also has a story that deserves to be documented,” he said.
Awang Tengah also called for closer cooperation between DBP Sarawak Branch and educational institutions, universities, publishers, writers’ associations and other stakeholders.
He said such collaboration would help create a stronger environment for writing and publishing while making reading and writing a greater part of everyday life in Sarawak.
He also hoped works produced in the state would gain wider exposure beyond Sarawak.
“We want works produced in Sarawak to be read not only by Sarawakians, but also showcased at the national and international levels,” he said.
Awang Tengah said the award should continue to grow as a prestigious platform for recognising outstanding publications and elevating Sarawak’s reputation in knowledge and intellectual development.
He congratulated the winners and urged writers and publishers to continue producing quality works.
