Social media users posted comments on promoting literacy in the country, where interest in reading is low.

On the day that coincides with the establishment of the National Library on May 17, 1980, Indonesian politicians, notable writers and journalists joined other social media users across the country to commemorate National Book Day, which was declared by former education minister Abdul Malik Fadjar in 2002.

“Too many people talk, yet too few want to read. Save this generation through literacy. Happy National Book Day #HariBukuNasional” tweeted @ZUL_Hasan, People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Zulkifli Hasan, on Wednesday.

Terlalu banyak yg bicara, terlalu sedikit yg mau membaca. Selamatkan generasi dengan literasi. Selamat Hari Buku Nasional #HariBukuNasional pic.twitter.com/GSYuDLJ8sk

— ZULkifli Hasan (@ZUL_Hasan) May 17, 2017

Meanwhile, National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar posted a series of tweets that called on the citizens of Indonesia to improve their reading habits so that they could gain more knowledge and generate more constructive dialogue instead of divisive talk.

“Instead of delivering empty arguments only over the matter of the state ideology established by the Founding Fathers, it’s better to read more,” the PKB politician tweeted on his @cakiminpkb account.

Daripada berdebat kosong hanya masalah dasar negara yang sudah ditetapkan Pendiri Bangsa, lebih baik baca buku. #HariBukuNasional

— TURUNTANGAN (@cakiminpkb) May 17, 2017

Jakarta governor-elect Anies Baswedan, a former culture and education minister, posted pictures of himself during a visit to the Hans Bague Jassin Literary Documentation Center in Jakarta, Indonesia’s biggest literary center that houses more than 50,000 titles, ranging from books to video recordings.

“Happy National Book Day! When I visit the HB Jassin Literary Documentation Center, I found invaluable treasures,” tweeted Anies on his account @aniesbaswedan

Selamat Hari Buku Nasional!

Ketika mengunjungi perpustakaan Pusat Dokumentasi Sastra HB Jassin​, menemukan harta karun yang tak ternilai. pic.twitter.com/EHclmhhHGA

— Anies Baswedan (@aniesbaswedan) May 17, 2017

As a tribute to those who tirelessly campaign for literacy behavior in the archipelagic country, television journalist Najwa Shihab posted a picture of herself with literacy activists on her Instagram account on Wednesday.

“#greetingliteracy! With my friends, literacy activists from all over Indonesia. They are the ones who are persistent, passionate and strong-willed in promoting the literacy virus throughout the archipelago. Happy #NationalBookDay #IndonesiaLiteraryAmbassador #literaryambassador #IRead” posted @najwashihab.

 

#salamliterasi ! Bersama teman-teman penggiat literasi dari seluruh Indonesia. Mereka yang begitu gigih, bersemangat, keras kepala menyebarkan virus literasi ke pelosok nusantara. Selamat #HariBukuNasional. #dutabacaindonesia #dutabaca #AkuBaca

A post shared by Najwa Shihab (@najwashihab) on May 16, 2017 at 9:18pm PDT

In a series of tweets on his Twitter account @adhityamulya, author Adhitya Mulya promoted campaigns against book piracy and raised awareness of the need for readers to stop buying pirated books or downloading pirated version of e-books as they could harm the literary business.

“Piracy can lead publishers to bankruptcy. Buy pirated books -> original stock not sold -> publishers’ capital is in the stock -> bankruptcy,” tweeted Adhitya above a picture that read “Stop buying pirated books, buy original ones! Support the work of your favorite writers, don’t let their hard work get pirated.”

@GagasMedia @ninityunita @resitare @Miss_Morra @maheeeR @radityadika @saputraroy @deelestari @shitlicious @aMrazing Pembajakan bisa bikin penerbit bangkrut.

Elo beli bajakan -> stok penerbit ga kebeli -> modal penerbit terikat di stok buku -> bangkrut. pic.twitter.com/ppiGyOUvj1

— Adhitya Mulya (@adhityamulya) May 17, 2017

Adhitya’s message got re-tweeted by prominent author Dewi “Dee” Lestari through her account @deelestari. She added a message “Let’s do that. This is one way to appreciate writers and support a healthy ecosystem in the book industry.”

Yuk. Ini salah satu cara mengapresiasi penulis dan mendukung ekosistem industri buku yg sehat. https://t.co/oe3L5eIbQU

— Dee Lestari (@deelestari) May 17, 2017

Richard Mathews, the Australian consul-general in Makassar, also tweeted to mark the country’s National Book Day as he promoted the 2017 Makassar International Writers Festival, the first international literary festival to be held in eastern Indonesia, which run from May 17 to 20.

Celebrating Indonesian National Book Day - in Makassar with @makassarwriters #MIWF2017 at Fort Rotterdam. Encourage kids to love books! https://t.co/BTy0KEzBNM

— Richard Mathews (@KonJenMakassar) May 17, 2017

On May 17, Indonesia celebrated National Book Day. Our Founding Fathers founded this nation based on what they read. #HariBukuNasional

— IwanSatyanegaraKamah (@IwanKamah) May 17, 2017

Today, in Indonesia we're celebrating National Book Day! The main objective is to increase reading interest of Indonesian citizen #haribuku

— Luthfi F. Rahman (@luthfir272) May 16, 2017

A study conducted by John Miller, president of Central Connecticut State University in New England, in 2016 revealed that Indonesia is the second-least literate nation among 61 measurable countries due to its “literate behavior characteristics.” Indonesia sits in 60th place after Thailand and before Botswana.

A United Nations Development Program (UNDP) assessment last year also found that only one out of 1,000 Indonesians is passionate about reading. (bbs)

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