Memoirs grab top two prizes
RCA an annual event that rewards and encourages Malaysian authors
KUALA LUMPUR: The memoirs of Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Robert Kuok grabbed the first and second prizes in the nonfiction category at the 2018 PopularThe Star Readers’ Choice Awards (RCA).
Letters To Home: Young Malaysians Write Back
took the third prize.
In the fiction category, Before We Forget, a novel based on the screenplay of the hit movie
The Kid From The Big Apple 2: Before We Forget
written by Michelle Yoon and Jess Teong grabbed top honours.
The second and third prize winners for the fiction category went to Bernice Chauly for her book Once We Were There and Felicia Yap for
Yesterday.
First prize winners received RM3,000, second prize winners RM1,500 and third prize winners RM1,000.
All winners were also given a certificate of recognition.
The awards ceremony was held yesterday at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), attended by guest of honour Datuk Seri Abdul Jalil Abdul Hamid, CEO of New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, who presented the prizes to the winners.
The event also saw the PopularBH Anugerah Pilihan Pembaca awards being given out.
“Both awards remain the awards to be won by local authors and serve to elevate the authors’ standing in the literary world locally and abroad,” Abdul Jalil said in his speech as he congratulated all nominees.
Also present were Datuk Ahmad Zaini Kamaruzzaman, executive editor of Berita Harian; Chou Cheng Ngok, Group CEO of Popular Holdings Ltd; Desmond Wee, chairman of Popular Holdings Ltd; and Ann Marie Chandy, deputy executive editor of Star Media Group.
According to Wee, the awards promote works by local authors and serve as “a consolidated platform to shape, develop and propel local talents to greater heights”.
“It also inculcates a love of reading among Malaysians and involves readers by asking them to vote for their favourite authors,” he added.
Now in its 11th year, the RCA, organised by Popular Bookstores Malaysia, is an annual event that rewards and encourages Malaysian authors.
Nominees are chosen from last year’s bestselling local fiction and nonfiction titles in Popular and Harris bookstores nationwide.
The top three winners for both categories are picked by readers via a voting campaign.
The RCA is held as part of Bookfest@Malaysia 2018, the country’s largest trilingual book exposition.
In its 13th edition, BookFest@Malaysia 2018 will be on daily, from 10am to 10pm, from now until June 17 at the KLCC.
Admission is with purchase of the BookFest catalogue at RM2.50 per entry or RM10 for multiple entries over the nine days. Catalogues are available at all Popular and Harris bookstore outlets nationwide and also at the event’s entrance.
Entrance is free for students who are 18 years old and below, and for senior citizens aged 60 and above. For more information, visit bookfestmalaysia.com.
Star Media Group Bhd is a media partner of BookFest@Malaysia 2018. Visit The Star’s booth in Hall 3 (Link Hall) to subscribe or renew subscriptions to The Star bundle, ePaper and StarBiz Premium. All subscribers will receive freebies and lucky draw items.