Malaysian reading: mixed signals

Based on a report from The Star:

On one hand we have arbitrary censorship and restriction of books coming into the country: Arabian Nights, SpongeBob SquarePants, Midnight’s Children, etc, etc, etc. You name it.

Now a report says: 'The Government is targeting to have Malaysians read at least 10 books yearly from 2010.'

'According to a survey, Malaysians only read an average of five books last year, Culture, Arts and Heritage Deputy Minister Datuk Wong Kam Hoong said in Penang ...'

And which survey is that?! In the last survey we read the figure was two books a year. Some consider even that figure to be exaggerated. Now we are hearing a new number – five. Is the real number really that embarrassingly low?

Let’s move on ...

The report further quotes the Deputy Minister: 'He said this should gradually increase to reach the targeted number in four years from now ...' (Oh, he is talking about the end of the year 2010, that should make things easier.)

He adds: 'People in Britain and Japan read an average of 20 books a year.' Dear Mr Deputy Minister, do you have any idea at all about the size of the book industry in those countries?

Full story: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/1/20/north/16628273&sec=North