KUCHING: The habit of reading physical books may be waning in this era of digitisation, but not for Sarawak writer Yusuf Mustanir who has been consistently reading up to 100 books each year for nearly four decades.
The 66-year-old literature writer said his passion for reading started while still a child, when his late father, a customs officer, would expose him to reading materials such as newspapers and magazines.
“I liked to flip through them. My interest was further fuelled with my father often taking me to bookshops around the city of Kuching on weekends, letting me choose the books I wanted.
“That was the beginning of my journey, and the reading habit has persisted since,” he said during an exclusive interview with New Sarawak Tribune here today (Aug 29).
Elaborating, he attributed his reading appetite to his aspiration of becoming a knowledgeable Malaysian.
His goal is to read around 100 books annually, covering diverse subjects such as politics, education, religion and society.
“As of August this year, I have finished reading 82 books, which averages to about 10 books per month.
“Additionally, I make it a point to read nine types of newspapers including local and national newspapers every day, as different editors offer varying perspectives,” he said.
At the same time, Yusuf emphasised the pivotal role parents play in instilling the reading habit in their children and the younger generation.
“In my view, the lack of interest in reading among the younger generation is due to parental influence. Not all parents are enthusiastic readers, and they tend to neglect their responsibility in this regard.
“Just like how my father encouraged me to read, now my grandchildren are encouraged to read, but they do so in English. Despite being around five years old, they are already reading,” he said.
In the same vein, he said this role needs to be fulfilled at the community level, particularly within villages.
“Village committees, political organisations, NGOs, and educational bureaus should all play a role in promoting reading. Village libraries should be adequately equipped and newspapers should be available there.
“Campaigns should also be organised to encourage reading to create an environment where people can always come together to read,” he added.
