Malaysia Rewrites Its Book-Banning Rules. And Reminds Us The West Has Them Too
Malaysia’s Home Ministry moves to reform its book-banning process. A reminder that every country censors — the question is how transparently.
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Category: S.E. Asia
Indonesia – Dayak Community Makes Publishing History with First-Ever International Literacy Congress
World-first literacy congress by Dayak indigenous community in Borneo, featuring authentic multi-generational authorship, holistic literacy frameworks, and strategic publishing infrastructure.
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Lau Yee-Wa Wins Inaugural Chommanard International Literary Award – A Landmark for Asian Women’s Literature
Hong Kong’s Lau Yee-Wa wins inaugural Chommanard International Literary Award for Tongueless, spotlighting ASEAN and East Asian female literary talent in 2026.
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Record 1.3 Million Attendance, $15.7 Million Sales at Thailand’s Bangkok Book Fair Amid Global Pressures
Bangkok International Book Fair 2026 drew 1.3m visitors, generating $15.7m in sales. Gen Z comprised 46% of attendees as rights trading hit $2.65m—up 50% YoY.
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Southeast Asian Libraries Pioneer ESG Literacy Initiative
Cambodian Librarians Association partners with CamEd Business School and international universities for a 2026 ESG reading contest targeting emerging markets.
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Bangkok Rights Fair 2026: Where Deals Are Done – and Why the SE Asia Content Map Gets Complicated
The Bangkok Rights Fair 2026 saw 163 companies from 24 territories generate $2.65m in projected deals, revealing the complex content landscape of Southeast Asian publishing.
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Southeast Asia’s Library Revolution: Lessons for Western Publishers
Southeast Asian libraries are reshaping national development strategy. Why Western publishers must pay attention to this quiet revolution.
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Malaysia Unveils KOTA BACA 2026: A National Reading Ecosystem
Malaysia’s KOTA BACA 2026 transforms Kuala Lumpur’s Dataran Merdeka into a national reading ecosystem, uniting government, publishers and citizens to democratise book access.
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BookFest Malaysia Marks 20 Years as Southeast Asia’s Premier Publishing Showcase
BookFest Malaysia celebrates 20 years at KLCC with 530+ booths, trilingual programming, and industry awards, highlighting Malaysia’s growing book market.
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Philippine Book Festival 2026: A Thriving Literary Ecosystem
The 4th Philippine Book Festival drew 120,000+ visitors and PHP80M in sales, showcasing Filipino publishing growth, diverse literary offerings, and the 43rd National Book Awards.
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Thailand’s Bangkok International Book Fair Kicks Off March 26
Southeast Asia’s largest book fair returns 26 March–6 April 2026 at Queen Sirikit Centre. Features 1,166+ booths, rights trading, and City Pop theme.
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From Shelves to Space Policy to Women’s Empowerment: The Expanding Role of Cambodian Libraries
Cambodian Librarians Association demonstrates how libraries serve as vital community hubs, hosting events on space policy, sustainability, and women’s empowerment—showcasing innovation that rivals Western counterparts.
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