Nancy: Semarak book voucher expanded to 371 bookstores, redeemable beginning April 1

KUALA LUMPUR: The distribution of 2022 Semarak Membaca Book Vouchers worth RM10 each has been expanded to 371 bookstores, compared with only 168 stores last year, following a positive response from the reading community, said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

She said the distribution of book vouchers under the 2022 Semarak Membaca Book Voucher Redemption Programme run by the National Library (PNM) in collaboration with the Malaysian Book Publishers Association (Mabopa) would be held from April 1 until Aug 31 to benefit 190,000 recipients.

“Vouchers will be distributed to 371 bookstores comprising 170 physical bookstores, one E-Sentral Ebook portal online bookstore and 200 e-commerce bookstores through the Shopee application as a new platform to expand this redemption programme.

“Voucher recipients are eligible to redeem or enjoy a discount with a minimum spend of RM20 in one transaction receipt,” she said when officiating at the 2022 Semarak Membaca Book Voucher presentation ceremony here yesterday.

Nancy said the ministry had agreed to continue the Semarak Membaca Book Voucher Programme through PNM this year to preserve the reading culture, in line with efforts to make Malaysia a reading nation by 2030.

“For that purpose, RM2 million has been allocated to PNM under the Voucher and Discount Incentive for Arts and Cultural Products in 2022,” she said.

The Semarak Membaca Book Voucher Redemption Programme was held for the first time from Oct 21 to Nov 30 last year.

In addition to the benefit of getting a discount, book voucher recipients will also be automatically registered as uPustaka members who have the opportunity to access digital reading materials for free at any time.

A list of bookstores involved in the redemption of vouchers can be found on the website www.semarakmembaca.com.