MPH has lined up various events at its stores nationwide in conjunction with the World Book Day, says Ismail

By NUR HAZIQAH A MALEK / Pic By AFIF ABD HALIM

MPH Bookstores Sdn Bhd yesterday launched the World Book Day, a celebration of best local and international publications, along with its corporate social responsibility initiatives with the United Nations International Children’s Fund (Unicef) and Gardens International School (GIS).

MPH Group of Cos chairman Tan Sri Ismail Yusof said MPH has lined up various events at its stores nationwide in conjunction with the World Book Day.

“The importance of books and literature cannot be taken lightly; it has helped shape many of us into who we are today, an enriched society,” he said at the launch in Kuala Lumpur.

He said the bookstore will continue to strive on ensuring the publication of quality books for the locals.

“MPH has also established book programmes in collaboration with esteemed partners to ensure that not just privileged kids have access to books, but the underprivileged as well,” he said.

At the launching ceremony, several awards were given to bestselling authors and publishers who made their marks via the sales record last year.

Among the winners were Dr Beni Rusani’s Breathe under the paperback fiction category, Arkitek Jalanan by Teme Abdullah for Malay non-fiction category and 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher for the young adult segment.

The event also saw the birth of DX Comic by White Coat Enterprise Sdn Bhd, a project that is part of MPH’s effort in catering to graphic novel readers.

At the launch, MPH also presented a cheque worth RM37,545 to Unicef that will be channel led to disabled children in Malaysia, in line with the company’s goal of ensuring proper childhood and upbringing for children.

MPH’s initiative with GIS is the “Big Read Campaign”, which is aimed at amassing aid for the Rohingya Learning Centre.

The company has so far pledged to donate RM5,000 worth of books to the learning centre.

Big Read Campaign organising chairperson Sara Sheldon hoped that the collaboration will provide assistance to the Rohingya community.

In tandem with the celebration, MPH is holding the “World Book Day Monster Hunt” promotion that offers discounts up to 30% on English titles at its major outlets nationwide.