KUCHING: Chairman of the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Board of Governors Datuk Dr Mohd Anuar Rethwan has called for greater authority and quick action from the leadership to strengthen the role of DBP in promoting the Malay language, literature, and publications.
He stressed the importance of establishing credibility, acting swiftly and enhancing the visibility of DBP’s bookstore offerings.
“Top management and senior officers must assert themselves as credible figures in the fields of language, literature and publishing.
“We must instil the concept of urgency in the work culture. Additionally, it is crucial to increase the number of titles and publications showcased and sold at the DBP Bookstore,” he said in his New Year’s address.
Mohd Anuar also stressed the importance of ensuring that all DBP publications were included in the institute’s collection, with a comprehensive list maintained and regularly checked.
Additionally, he urged DBP staff to familiarise themselves with the country’s literary figures, intellectuals and academics, ensuring that these influential individuals were well-known within the organisation.
Turning to DBP’s achievements in 2024, Mohd Anuar expressed pride in the institute’s successful seminars, conferences and cultural programmes, including the National Seminar on Malay Language Publishing, which was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He also mentioned the recognition of the manuscript ‘Al-Tarikh Salasilah Negeri Kedah’ under the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) programme as well as the publication of the first-ever ‘Kamus Etimologi Bahasa Melayu Dewan’.
Lauding DBP’s role in national initiatives, he noted the ‘Gerak Gempur Kembali ke Sekolah’ programme was implemented in schools nationwide, along with the allocation of RM10 million in the 2024 Budget to strengthen the nation’s unity through culture, language and literature.
The chairman also recognised the support from key figures such as Anwar Ibrahim, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, and Chief Secretary to the Ministry of Education Datuk Ruji Ubi.
“I am accompanied by the members of the DBP Board of Governors (ALP), who are highly committed and understand the vision and mission of DBP.
“The ALP consistently provides feedback, perspectives, and ideas for improvements to strengthen the governance and performance of DBP, both in Board meetings and through the Board’s committees,” he said.
