Kuala Lumpur (1/5/2018) – The Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2018 which took place at the Putra World Trade Center (PWTC) has been crowded with visitors since morning. In the Malaysian capital, it is also enjoying a day of “International Labor Day” which falls today. Starting from year to year, “labor day” is the day with the highest number of visitors present at KLIBF.
“Malaysia has become my second home,” said Habiburrahman El Shirazy. At the age of 25 when he returned from Cairo, Egypt, Habiburrahman, known as Kang Abik, was invited by the Kuala Lumpur Language Council to attend Kuala Lumpur World Reading and became the youngest poet to attend the event. In his sharing, Kang Abik stated that he started the writing profession by writing short stories and poetry. Professionally, he also translates books from the Arabic Scriptures into Indonesian.
For him writing is practicing knowledge and preaching, also solely worshiping Allah SWT. That was the initial intention of why Kang Abik wrote. He was not writing because he wanted to make a best seller book, but because of his sincere intentions that produced something extraordinary. “The translator’s profession is God’s way of educating me to become a writer so that I can sit for a long time in front of a computer and write a book.”
He also shared about how to publish a best seller book. If you want a best seller book, there are several laws that must be obeyed according to Kang Abik. Just like cooking food, food must be sold, just like a bestseller book. Starting the food must be good, as well as writing. The results of his work must be able to be enjoyed by many people. In addition, food must also be nutritious so that many people buy it, as well as books, the writing must contain knowledge. If the book provides more definite value, it will automatically become a best seller and will open up other opportunities, such as being appointed to the film, even to other things.
KLIBF runs from April 27 to May 6 2018 at Putra World Trade Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This year Indonesia is present as a guest country together with Saudi Arabia and the guest country of Kedah. This presence is fully supported by the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf), Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud), and the Republic of Indonesia Embassy (KBRI) in Kuala Lumpur. KLIBF is also filled with the Kuala Lumpur Trade and Copyright Center (KLTCC), Writers’ Conference and Malaysia’s Digital Lifestyle Exhibition.
