This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on November 3, 2025 – November 9, 2025
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” — Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
In an age where TikTok clips, Instagram reels and viral memes dominate the attention span of the young, the quiet act of reading often feels like an endangered tradition. For Malaysian youth, books are too often seen as homework, exams or burdensome assignments rather than windows to imagination and power.
Yet, history reminds us that literature has always been the heartbeat of a nation — stories are what shape identity, values and vision. If Malaysia wants to build a generation of leaders, dreamers and thinkers, it must first make reading — and literature — cool again.
Ask any teacher today and you will hear the same concern: young Malaysians are reading less. Not because they lack access to books, but because books now compete with TikTok reels, Instagram stories and endless scrolling. The art of reading — a quiet, immersive act — struggles to survive in the age of distraction.
This is not just a cultural problem. It is a national crisis. A generation that does not read risks losing imagination, empathy and critical thinking — the very qualities needed to navigate a fast-changing world.
Why are young Malaysians turning away from books?
Part of the blame lies with our exam-driven culture. Too often, reading is reduced to memorising passages and regurgitating “model answers”.
Literature becomes a burden, not a joy. Add to that the lack of stories reflecting Malaysian life — where are the novels about Kota Bharu, Kuching or Kuala Lumpur teens? Most books on the market do not speak to them — the books feel distant, irrelevant.
So how do we make literature and reading cool again?
First, by meeting youth where they are. Imagine TikTok challenges built around lines from Hikayat Hang Tuah, or rap battles inspired by Usman Awang’s poetry.
If we bring literature into the spaces young people already inhabit, it will stop feeling like a museum piece.
Second, we need more Malaysian stories told in contemporary voices. A gripping novel set in a KL campus or a Sabah fishing village can speak more powerfully to youth than another imported bestseller. Representation matters.
Third, make reading social. Youth-led book clubs, spoken-word nights and online reading challenges can turn books into shared experiences. Reading is less lonely — and far more attractive — when it becomes a community trend.
Why reading matters now more than ever
Reading is more than an academic requirement. It is the ability to journey into different worlds, wrestle with ideas and expand one’s emotional intelligence. Studies consistently show that young readers develop sharper critical thinking, stronger empathy and more creativity. For Malaysian youth facing a fast-changing global economy, the ability to think broadly and deeply is no longer a luxury — it is survival.
The phrase “imagination is more important than knowledge” is a famous quote by Albert Einstein, who believed that imagination, unlike limited knowledge, allows for the creation of new ideas, innovation and progress by envisioning what is possible and transcending current understanding.
While knowledge provides a foundation, imagination is the driving force for discovery and the creation of future realities, enabling leaps beyond known facts and fostering creativity in art, science and life.
A national movement for a reading nation
Reviving the reading habit among Malaysian youth cannot be left to schools alone. It requires collaboration — parents who read with their children, publishers who take risks with daring new voices, social media influencers who share book reviews and libraries that double as vibrant community hubs.
Malaysia’s future lies not just in skyscrapers or digital highways, but in the inner landscapes of its youth. If we succeed in making literature cool again — making reading less of a burden — we will raise a generation of thinkers capable of imagining a better Malaysia.
Finally, let’s use influence. When athletes, actors and singers share what they are reading, books gain a new kind of credibility. If your favourite footballer is reading a novel, suddenly it feels cool to pick it up too. Malaysia’s future depends not only on technology and industry, but on the imagination of its young.
If we can make reading a badge of pride, not a chore, we can raise a generation ready to dream boldly and think deeply. And that, more than any gadget, will future-proof our nation.