Literacy

In the traditional narrative of financial failure, bankruptcy is often depicted as a spectre that haunts the tail end of a career, the result of a business venture gone sour in middle age, the accumulated weight of years of mismanagement, or the cruel financial blow of a late-life health crisis. This image, however, is rapidly becoming outdated. A starkly different reality has emerged in Malaysia, one that challenges the nation’s economic optimism and signals a deep-seated vulnerability among its youngest citizens.

Sarawak advances digital inclusion through NADI centres and SMART600 towers, yet faces literacy and affordability gaps. Comparing global models from Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America reveals the need for human-centred strategies beyond infrastructure to ensure equitable transformation.

According to the Malaysian Department of Insolvency (MDI), approximately 5,272 bankruptcy cases among Malaysians under 34 from 2020 to 2025, including roughly 877 in 2024 alone.

In 2025, Sarawak’s shift toward a tech-driven economy hinges on empowering its diverse youth cohort - aged 15 to 40 - with digital infrastructure, skills, and mentorship for inclusive and sustainable development.

As digital dependence grows, Sarawak prioritizes digital literacy through education and community initiatives, addressing challenges in misinformation, cybersecurity, and skill development for a more informed and responsible society.

Conveniently located among university campus and students, the new library will be an invaluable asset in creating a positive impact on students’ achievement as well as instilling a habit of life-long learning.

Having the ability to navigate the increasingly complex media landscape is extremely vital; as most Malaysians rely heavily on online and social media for their news, they need to be able to think critically about what they consume to reduce their susceptibility to misinformation and disinformation.

With the emergence of printed media beginning the late 15th century, recordings from the late 19th century, cinema, radio, television and the Internet in the 20th century, and mobile phones at the start of the 21st century, the focus shifted to analysing and evaluating this overwhelming amount of media.

Literacy was once known simply as the ability to read and write. Literacy is complex. Literacy is so much more than reading and writing. Literacy...