Azwar says Japanese had right idea of reading

JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas has asked people to learn from the Japanese, whose global success was based on a long tradition of reading.

Azwar said when opening a two-day seminar on reading at the Cempaka Hotel, Jakarta, Friday that improving reading habits would produce a society which was more aware and capable of mastering modern science and technology.

The minister said the Japanese could be cited as a good example of having excellent reading habits. "Their success was due to their country's long tradition of strongly emphasizing reading. This has allowed them to enjoy a respected position and given them a readiness to compete with other countries in the next century," Azwar said.

A strong education system, coupled with research and development, had also enabled the Japanese to produce world-class technology that more than held its own in world markets, he said.

The seminar was sponsored by the Indonesians Love Reading Society.

Azwar said that he hailed the association's efforts to encourage people to read more.

The organization, established on May 30, 1996, has branches in all 27 provinces. It aims to increase literacy through its programs, including book clubs, public reading groups, an annual reading contest, and book donations.

Students in developing countries are less capable of absorbing a subject than students in developed or industrialized countries, Azwar said.

He cited the United Nations Global Report on Education in 1996 which said that Indian students spent more time learning than students in developed and industrialized countries. Only 48 percent of the Indian students, however, fully understood reading materials and 50 percent mastered science, the report said.

Azwar said; "The report did not explicitly mention Indonesia, but India is on a par with our country. The report should become a whip to spur ourselves into improving our reading habits."

The society's general secretary, Doddy Yudhista, said poor reading habits could also be a reflection on the number of books published.

Indonesia published 2,800 books last year, while Malaysia produced 18,700, Doddy said.

Despite Indonesia's 200-million population, the country has only 2,200 book stores while Japan has more than 100,000 for its 125 million people.

Doddy said he wanted to create a more conducive climate for Indonesians to become more educated through better reading habits to face global competition in the years ahead.

In Japan books are not taxed but in Indonesia book prices include a 30 percent tax.

"The taxes should be lowered and a political will is needed to enhance reading habits among Indonesians," he said

According to the Kompas daily, 10 percent of the tax is allocated to paper, 10 percent to printing and 10 percent to sales.

Since 1990, the tax burden on books has been reduced to 20 percent with the government subsidizing the other 10 percent. (01)