THE Popular-The Star Readers’ Choice Awards (RCA) and Popular-BH Anugerah Pilihan Pembaca (APP) are back – as part of BookFest @ Malaysia 2024 happening at KLCC (April 6-14).
Entering their 14th iteration this year, both awards are organised together with The Star and Berita Harian to encourage, recognise and reward aspiring and established writers who enrich the Malaysian literary scene.
The awards have been attracting an increasingly diversified field of genres and writers with every passing year, which support Popular’s efforts in promoting the love of reading and books among Malaysians.
Previous RCA winners included Norhafsah Hamid (2023, 2019), Tan Sri Tony Fernandes (2018), Robert Kuok (2018), Tun Dr Siti Hasmah (2017), Tunku Halim Tunku Abdullah (2015), with the likes of Hadi Fayyadh (2019), Datuk Kazim Elias (2016), and Suri Ryana (2012, 2013) finishing on the winners’ podium for the APP.
In the 13th year of the RCA, the top three winners in the fiction category were Norhafsah Hamid (author of Time To Heal), Tan Sue Lynn (Daughter Of The Moon Goddess) and Karina Robles Bahrin (The Accidental Malay).
In the non-fiction category, the winners were Sharifah Nadirah and Muhammad Anas (Healing The Heart: Leaving Darkness For Light), Anas Alam Faizli (Rich Malaysia, Poor Malaysians) and Vivy Yusof (The First Decade: My Journey From Blogger To Entrepreneur).
2024 nominees
Nominees are selected from last year’s bestselling fiction and non-fiction titles at Popular and Harris bookstores nationwide. Each category will have 10 books nominated.
Popular outlets nationwide will display the nominated titles for both RCA and APP, which will be sold at a 20% discount from now till May 5.
The nominees of RCA 2024 in the fiction category are:
> Norhafsah Hamid (Will You Love Me?)
> NF Afrina (Not Here To Stay)
> Amir Muhammad (The Big Book Of Malaysian Horror Stories)
> Lilian Li (Duet Me Not)
> Hanna Alkaf, Margaret Owen (The Grimoire Of Grave Fates)
> Nadia Khan (Children We Never Had)
> Tan Sue Lynn (Heart Of the Sun Warrior)
> Aishah Zainal (Hades)
> Sreedhevi lyer (The Tiniest House Of Time)
> Ivy Ngeow (The American Boyfriend)
Nominees in the non-fiction category are:
> Ayesha Syahira (He Found You Lost And Guided You)
> Joe Samad (Unequal Partners)
> Dr Ariza Mohamed (Doctor In The Dock)
> Mark Trowell (Anwar Triumphs: The Ascent Of Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister Against All Odds)
> Norhafsah Hamid (Letters For The Fragile Heart)
> Hijanah Hazalif (Letters From My Heart Vol 1)
> Hijanah Hazalif (Letters From My Heart Vol 2)
> Sharifah Nadirah (Oh Allah, Heal Me)
> James Chai (Sang Kancil: A Tale About How Ordinary Malaysians Defied The Odds)
> Imran Zaki (In Your Hidden Tears: Finding Hope In Despair Through Meaningful Quranic Reflections)
The top three authors in each category will receive a certificate of recognition, a trophy and cash at the awards ceremony on April 6 at the KL Convention Centre in conjunction with BookFest @ Malaysia 2024.
Cast your vote
This year’s BookFest @ Malaysia 2024 holds special significance for Popular as it celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Readers are invited to vote for their favourite fiction and non-fiction titles on the Popular website (www.popular.com.my), BookFest @ Malaysia website (www.bookfestmalaysia.com) or via Popular Malaysia Facebook from now until March 10.
Readers will also be in the running for prizes; 100 RCA voters and 100 APP voters will each receive a one-year Popular e-card membership and RM50 gift voucher.
