Get kids to read books on racial, religious diversity, says Fahmi

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil (seated, left) at the ‘Let’s Read Together for 10 Minutes@Bernama: Reading Preserves Unity’ event at Wisma Bernama. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Children need to be exposed to the culture of reading, especially books showcasing the diversity of races and religions in this country, to foster a knowledgeable generation that celebrates differences, says Fahmi Fadzil.

The communications minister said reading would help children explore stories from various communities in Malaysia to promote unity, Bernama reported.

“We need to take this opportunity to delve into the stories of the various communities in our country, and from there, we can understand and celebrate differences from a young age,” he told reporters after attending the “Let’s Read Together for 10 Minutes@Bernama: Reading Preserves Unity” programme today.

Fahmi said he recognised the difficulty parents face in developing reading habits among children amid widespread gadget use from an early age.

However, he said parents should play a role in sparking their children’s interest and spending time reading with them.

“I feel that even for my children, sometimes telling them to read books is not easy, but it begins with parents saying no to devices.

“We need to start buying books, have the culture of going to bookstores, spending time together and finding books they are interested in,” he said.