2025 marked a pivotal expansion for KLAB with the inaugural Ipoh Alternative Bookfest (May) and Johor Alternative Bookfest (December).

The Kuala Lumpur Alternative Bookfest (KLAB) has cemented its position as Malaysia’s premier showcase for independent publishing, with its 2025 edition drawing nearly 93,000 visitors to Central Market.

A Hub for Homegrown Voices

Now in its 16th edition, KLAB distinguishes itself from larger commercial fairs by spotlighting homegrown publishers who balance mainstream appeal with fringe literary voices.

Organised by the Malaysian Book Publishers Association (Mabopa) with support from Fixi and The Patriots, the festival has become a vital platform for Bahasa Malaysia literature. The 2025 event featured over 50 indie publishers, booksellers, and niche bookstores, with entry remaining free to maximise accessibility.

Impressive Growth Trajectory

Visitor numbers have consistently climbed, with the 2025 edition’s five-day run (29 January–2 February) attracting nearly 93,000 attendees – a significant increase from the 60,000 visitors in 2024. The mid-week opening alone drew 20,000 visitors, demonstrating a sustained public appetite for alternative literature.

This growth reflects a broader trend in Malaysia’s reading culture, where audiences increasingly seek diverse voices beyond commercial offerings.

Regional Expansion Strategy

2025 marked a pivotal expansion for KLAB with the inaugural Ipoh Alternative Bookfest (May) and Johor Alternative Bookfest (December). The Ipoh event, curated by local collectives Projek Rebel and Projek Rabak, adopted a distinctive grunge-punk aesthetic at Moodie Café, featuring publishers from Perak, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur. This decentralisation strategy mirrors successful models elsewhere, creating year-round engagement across Malaysia’s urban centres.

The View From The Beach

While the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF) commands over a million visitors annually, KLAB’s curated approach offers publishers something different: direct access to engaged, niche readers.

This post first appeared in the TNPS newsfeed.