TAWAU: Parents have been urged to take a more active role in selecting reading materials for their children to prevent exposure to harmful content.
Kalabakan MP Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy said parents should act as primary guides in ensuring materials are chosen wisely and not based solely on low prices.
He said concerns have arisen over the availability of cheap reading materials in the market, some priced as low as RM1 or RM2, which may contain inappropriate content.
“Close monitoring is crucial to ensure children are not influenced by materials that include elements of violence or negative behaviour,” he said.
He said this after officiating the ‘Jom Baca Bersama’ programme at the Sabah State Library Tawau branch, attended by 350 participants from 20 primary and secondary schools.
Andi Suryady said there are also concerns over materials that may contain extreme ideologies or content that conflicts with societal norms.
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“Early exposure without proper guidance could influence children’s thinking and behaviour if not addressed,” he said.
He underlined that parents should not rely solely on schools but must provide guidance and set examples in choosing beneficial reading materials.
He also suggested adopting digital approaches to reading culture, drawing inspiration from major cities where libraries provide structured digital access to information.
