INSPIRING: Featured guest writer Amir Muhammad encouraging students to broaden their horizons through reading.

PRAISES: Ambassador of the Philippines to Malaysia, His Excellency J. Eduardo Malaya compliments UCSI University for encouraging the importance of reading through the year-long Right to Read campaign.

KUALA LUMPUR: UCSI University (UCSI) recently launched a year-long campaign titled ‘Right to Read: The Writer’s Public Readings’—a collaboration with several renowned Malaysian writers and literary critics with the aim of encouraging the passion for reading and participation in creative production amongst the general public. 

The campaign was organised by the English Language Students’ Association (ELSA)—a student organisation under UCSI’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts (FOSSLA). As part of ELSA’s community enrichment programme, the campaign aims to hone the writing and reading skills of the local community and emphasise the importance of reading. 

According to Vice-Chancellor & President of UCSI University, Senior Professor Dato’ Dr Khalid Yusoff, a country’s progress is dependent on the literacy of its citizens. 

“We need literate youths to achieve our vision of becoming a high income nation by the year 2020. And today’s event is a step towards the right direction,” he said. 

One of the popular activities under the campaign is the Writer’s Public Readings series that has featured several renowned names in Malaysia’s literary world including Kee Thuan Chye – poet, journalist, and actor, and Wong Ming Yook – book author. 

The latest instalment of the campaign featured Amir Muhammad – a Malaysian writer and independent filmmaker – who shared empowering advice with the students. 

“You should not get upset just because other people do not like what you wrote. You should not write just for the sake of pleasing others,” he said, adding that there are challenges to being a writer but determination will get one through it. 

As part of the campaign’s reach, volunteer teaching by FOSSLA staff and students has also been initiated at the Home of Peace – an NGO that is home to underprivileged girls aged between 4-16 years. ELSA has also set up a book donation drive to encourage the local community to contribute pre-loved books to the children from the Home of Peace. 

His Excellency J. Eduardo Malaya, the Ambassador of the Philippines to Malaysia, was also present at the event. 

“Good communication starts with the ability to read, and I applaud UCSI on its campaign and on having the Home of Peace for girls as the campaign’s beneficiary. Reading is a right and a necessity, never a privilege,” His Excellency added. 

“The choice of these two advocacies manifests the commitment of the UCSI to be relevant to and be of service to the society at large.”

The event also saw the launch of the Faculty’s new postgraduate programme, the Master of Arts in English Language and Communication. 

The programme is designed to provide students with a framework to understand communication theories and processes in an organisational context. The Master of Arts in English Language also focuses on the intricacies of the language that vary according to the desired context and mediums of dissemination.