PENANG, 17 March 2026 – In line with the MADANI government’s aspiration to strengthen the reading culture in Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia Press (USM Press or Penerbit USM) has taken the initiative to introduce the USM Press Reading Corner at the Penang International Airport.

According to USM Press Director, Professor Dr. Goh Sang Seong, the initiative was made possible through strategic collaboration with Penang International Airport to provide a relaxing reading space for airport users.

He explained that the Reading Corner offers a wide selection of books in both Malay and English.

“Passengers waiting for their flights can choose from a variety of titles and spend their waiting time meaningfully with reading activities. The books provided are strictly for on‑site reading and are not permitted to be taken away,” he added.

Goh further stated that USM Press chose Penang International Airport as a strategic location to broaden public access to scholarly publications and to introduce works by local authors to a wider audience.

“As the main gateway for domestic and international visitors, the airport is an ideal venue to showcase university publications to diverse groups of people, including tourists, researchers, students, and the general public. Through this collaboration, the Reading Corner also strengthens Penang’s image as a destination that values knowledge and education,” he said.

At present, the USM Press Reading Corner is located at three key areas within the airport: the domestic departure hall, the international departure hall, and the VIP waiting lounge.

Through this initiative, USM Press hopes to ignite a stronger reading culture among the public while introducing the university’s publications to a broader audience.

Read, Relax, Take Off.

Original Text: Mohd Zaidi Abdullah, Head of Marketing and Sales Division, USM Press/Translation: Tan Ewe Hoe/Photo: USM Press