SHAH ALAM, 22 Apr: The State Government is always supporting and funding efforts to strengthen libraries to produce a workforce that is knowledgeable and skilled in the future.

The Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, said that focus is also given to efforts to enhance infrastructure and renovate rural libraries with the concept of re-branding.

He said that the people should make libraries their second home and make reading a routine.

“We need to improve the ability to think because the country is now entering the era of industrial services that needs workers who are knowledgeable and skilled.

“So, reading is a tool to increase knowledge, to sharpen the mind and understanding on a certain matter,” he said at a press conference here.

Earlier, he launched the ‘Let’s Read for 10 Minutes’ programme, which was also attended by State Executive Councillors Dr Halimah Ali and Rodziah Ismail, as well as the Selangor Public Library Corporation (PPAS) Director, Mastura Muhamad.

The ‘Let’s Read for 10 Minutes’ campaign is carried out simultaneously in all 14 states in Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak, from 10 to 10.10 am.

Before the launch, Abdul Khalid, together with guests of honour and over 2,000 other participants, spent 10 minutes to read the reading materials provided.

“I love to read. Just now I managed to finish (reading) 30 pages.

“I also read fast because when I was studying, I has little money. So, I used to stop by bookstores to read quickly and I could finish the book after visiting twice so I did not have to buy it,” he said during the opening speech.

In 2010, the State Government also organised a reading campaign with the same concept and recorded a participation of 13,271 people who read for 15 minutes in an event at Tasik Shah Alam.