Kuala Lampur, July 10 -- They say reading is free, but is it?

In Malaysia, books are expensive, libraries are uneven, and access is shaped by income, infrastructure and class. The cost of being a reader isn't just measured in ringgit. It's measured in opportunity, inequality and culture.

How much does a book cost?

You walk into a bookstore in Kuala Lumpur and pick up an imported paperback on statistics - RM60. A historical narrative? RM115. If you're earning Malaysia's minimum wage of RM1,700, that's nearly four to seven per cent of your monthly income. For one book.

That's your internet bill. Or a week's worth of lunches.

Books aren't taxed in Malaysia, but they're not cheap. Many are imported. That means you're paying for printing,...