THE GEORGE TOWN LITERARY FESTIVAL 2023
OPENING ADDRESS BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW FOR THE GEORGE TOWN LITERARY FESTIVAL 2023
24 November 2023
Loft 29, Church Street
YB Wong Hon Wai
Penang State Executive Councilor for Tourism and Creative Economy
YB Zairil Khir Johari
Penang State Executive Councilor for Infrastructure, Transport & Digital
Datin Barathi Suppiah
Director of Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB)
Mr Ashwin Gunasekeran
Chief Executive Officer of Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB)
His Excellency Ary Norton de Murat Quintella
Ambassador of Brazil to Malaysia
His Excellency Joachim Bergström
Ambassador of Sweden to Malaysia
His Excellency Wayne Robson
High Commissioner of Canada to Malaysia
Ms. Pauline Fan
George Town Literary Festival Director
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good evening, everyone and Selamat Datang ke Pulau Pinang!
It is my honour to officiate and host the 13th George Town Literary Festival as the Chief Minister of Penang. It is not every day you get to be in the company of so many esteemed writers from all over the world!
GTLF is organized annually in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is where George Town is located.
I look forward to this event every year because it inspires people of all ages to explore the role of literature in their lives. Lesser and lesser people are picking up a book and reading seems to be a hobby exclusively enjoyed by the millennial generation. In fact, it is not unusual for people to suddenly drop the habit of reading after they are done with schooling or tertiary education. This is especially true for the younger generation – the digital natives – for whom entertainment and instant gratification are at the tip of their fingers.
Ladies & Gentlemen,
I strongly believe that a society that dabbles in arts, all forms of it, is a happier, and more progressive society. Part of the Penang2030 Vision is to inspire Penangites to become more creative and being fulfilled by exploring diverse culture and arts. So, it is my hope that through GTLF, you may find your calling in literature, whether as an author, a poet, translator, journalist, playwright, or screenwriter.
Besides GTLF, there are many commendable initiatives throughout the year to promote the love of literature in the state. We have local publishers that help budding writers to get their book out, as well as writers’ workshops, book readings, and local independent bookstores, to increase exposure to our admirable Malaysian authors and inspire others to follow in their footsteps. We also have organizations dedicated to the task of translating books across our four main languages: Malay, English, Tamil, and Chinese.
The festival is now in its 13th year running and it is still going as strong and popular as ever. One of our most remarkable achievements was winning the London Book Fair International Excellence Awards in 2018. Also, we have achieved a collective number of over 550 writers over the last 12 years. Starting with only 5 writers in 2011, I would say we have come a long way for a small city-state. And who can forget the two years of the pandemic? The team even managed to organize a virtual, international-level literary festival!
I am happy that we are back in person for the second year since the pandemic, and I do not take this time for granted.
George Town Literary Festival is free of charge for the public, so I encourage you to take advantage of this and attend as many sessions as you can. Please bring along your friends and family, too. Everybody is welcome! But at the same time, make full use of your stay here in Penang to enjoy, to visit and to pamper yourself with what we have to offer. From sandy beaches to historic sites as well as street food or Michelin Star-awarded eateries, Penang can provide the inspiration for your next book.
Before I end my speech, I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to the festival organizers at the Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau, as well as the festival director, Pauline Fan, and her team, for your tremendous collective effort in making GTLF happen. I also want to thank all the distinguished writers who have travelled far and wide to come to our state. I hope you have an enjoyable time here in Penang.
Thank you and have a great evening.