He was commenting on a report by Nanyang Siang Pau which quoted a stationary wholesaler and supply company as saying that the price of A4 paper was expected to go up. The company attributed this to the depreciating ringgit and increases in raw material costs and transportation costs.
Speaking to FMT, Santiago said the prices of all sizes of paper would likely go up with the price of A4.
This would in turn cause the prices of books to rise, he added.
“Published material, including both fiction and non fiction books, are important in the life of a nation for a variety of reasons,” he said. “If we are aspiring to be a nation of excellence, then this requires educational materials to be affordable.”
Santiago said it would be wise for the government to bear a big proportion of the increase in price should books become more expensive.
“It’s an investment in the future of the country. The government should ensure that prices of printed materials are kept under control and it can do this through such initiatives as providing subsidies for book purchases.”