Young narrator: Nine-year-old Hilman Shakir Mohammad Shahril reading a braille animal book to Sultan Sharafuddin (left) and Tengku Amir (right) at the Raja Tun Uda Library. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
SHAH ALAM: Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has launched the Raja Tun Uda Library Foundation (YPRTU) to enrich and widen the Raja Tun Uda Library collection with a focus on special needs visitors and the state’s rich cultural heritage.
The Selangor Sultan arrived at the Raja Tun Uda Library, Section 13 here yesterday at 10.15am, accompanied by the Raja Muda of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah.
Also present were Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, YPRTU chairman Raja Tan Sri Arshad Raja Tun Uda and Selangor Public Library Corporation director Datin Paduka Mastura Muhamad.
During the event, His Highness witnessed corporate and Kilimanjaro multimedia presentations and presented certificates of appreciation to the Kilimanjaro team.
The recipients included Tengku Amir Shah, Datuk Setia Aubry Rahim Mennesson, Datuk Syed Haizam Hishamuddin Putra Jamalullail, Tengku Ezrique Ezzuddean Tengku Ardy Esfandiari Alhal and Keong Yeen Yeoh.Sultan Sharafuddin also presented certificates of appreciation to 13 donors of the foundation, including Yayasan Azman Hashim, which contributed RM1mil, and Albukhary Foundation and YTL Power International, which contributed RM500,000 each.
The Selangor Sultan also visited the facilities for the visually impaired before departing.
According to Mastura, the first phase of the library includes facilities for the visually impaired.
“The second phase of expansion will include facilities for those with autism and hearing impairments, and it is expected to be completed by the end of the year 2026.
“A total of 350,000 books are available in the library with 300 braille books and 2,658 books from the Sultan’s personal collection, which includes rare and limited-edition books.
“This is not about being the best library in Selangor or the nation, but it mainly focuses on inclusivity,” she added.
YPRTU functions to collect funds from companies and individuals to enrich the collection at the Raja Tun Uda Library to meet the needs of various segments of society, in line with the Sultan’s vision.
The Inland Revenue Board has also approved tax exemptions under Subsection 44(6) of the Income Tax Act 1967 for donors.
As of Nov 20, YPRTU had collected a total of RM3.3mil in contributions from 13 corporations.
