Publishing in Malaysia: A Survey of Private Sector Publishing

TitlePublishing in Malaysia: A Survey of Private Sector Publishing
Publication TypeThesis
Year of Publication1994
AuthorsIbrahim, Azmuddin Bin
UniversityUniversity of Wales
LanguageEnglish
Abstract

This study is directed towards a general investigation of the publishing industry in Malaysia, focusing on private sector publishers. The publishers selected are from the Klang Valley which is the centre of business activities in the country. Topics investigated include the structure of the industry, going into issues such as manpower and copyright; book production; distribution and promotion; and problems faced by the industry.

The purpose of this study is to find out present trends and characteristics of Malaysian publishers including its management policies. It analyses the book industry looking into the structure of the industry and issues such as type of books published. The purpose is to create better understanding of the industry and to provide recommendations that could help redress the problems.

It begins with a brief discussion on the importance of books as a medium of communication and as a tool for national development. To reflect its global characteristics, the international and Third World publishing scene is discussed. The research involved a survey of private sector publishers and detailed interviews with over 50 individuals involved in publishing. Both were carried out in the second quarter of 1992. To support information gathered from these two methods, documentary records were also analysed.

The study showed that the publishing industry in Malaysia is comparatively young and inexperienced. Textbook publishing is the mainstay of the industry. Training facilities are lacking, hence trained manpower is few. While production facilities are fairly advanced, improvements in distribution are much to be desired. Import of books continues to be high against export.

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