Bologna Childrens Book Fair 2014 - Stefano

Puan Sri Diah, Photo: Jasmi Baba

>>> TULISAN PENUH DI SINI <<<

Radhiah Shaharuddin,popular known as Puan Sri Diah, the General Manager of Grup Buku Karangkraf. The Karangkraf Media Group is a leading publisher in Malaysia. The company was established in 1979 by Dato Hussamuddin and had grown into a major organization employing 1500 people.

1 – How do you came into the world of publishing and when? What were your studies?

This is a very long personal history. I began as poet and short-story writing world since I was a teenager. At 17, I successfully produced a teenage novel. I was a pure science student but I ultimately chose literature in my tertiary education.

Kumpulan Media Karangkraf CEO Datuk Hussamuddin Yaacub sensed my talent and ability to work under pressure, with my high and undaunted working spirit.

After obtaining a Bachelor Degree in Creative Writing and Media from University Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, I started working at Kumpulan Karangkraf in 1984. Until today, my 30-year working period in this company has yet to quench my thirst for satisfaction.

For 20 years, I helmed the magazine publishing field as a Group Editor in the Magazine Department. With only two magazine titles initially in 1984, this department is now publishing 28 weekly, fortnightly and monthly magazines.

In 2006, I was appointed as Group Editor Akhbar Sinar Harian (daily newspaper) which operates with its tagline ‘Telus dan Tulus’ (Transparent and Sincere). This daily paper is very successful with daily sales in each state reaching 50.000 – 150.000 copies.

The newspaper is a community newspaper that delves into politics, business, local issues, exclusive reports, exposures and community activities. Sinar Harian now operates daily with eight editions according to state all over the Peninsula Malaysia.

I was appointed as a General Manager Grup Buku Karangkraf in March 2010. Now, it has been four years since I was tasked with developing the businesses of four biggest publishing entities in Malaysia, which are Alaf 21 Sdn Bhd, Buku Prima Sdn Bhd, Karya Bestari Sdn Bhd and Portal ILHAM online.

These four companies have published close to 300 book titles yearly, with an average of 25 new titles every month, including genres such as general, recipe, crafting, children and teenage novels. The novel publishing alone reached eight titles every month.

And this process become more aggressive when it’s time for (Karangkraf events such as) Mini Carnival, Warehouse Sale, Book Festival and Back-to-School Sale.

Karya Bestari Sdn Bhd is the biggest Al Quran publisher in Malaysia with 15 different types of Al Quran for each category of gender and age.

All these Al Quran are in Malay, complete with interpretation, prophets’ stories and hadiths.

Since December 2013 until today, more than 300,000 copies of Al Quran have been sold throughout Malaysia with the target group of women, teenagers, men and also for elders with bigger typefaces.

More importantly, all these Al Quran are certified by the Government of Malaysia.

Readmore: http://baltyra.com/2014/05/16/interview-with-puan-sri-diah-talking-about-literature-and-pesta-buku/#ixzz3f4fJ2dzM

Read more: http://baltyra.com/2014/05/16/interview-with-puan-sri-diah-talking-about-literature-and-pesta-buku/#ixzz3f4f7MFM2