Indonesia's Willy Aditya pushes draft book law to ensure equal access

Chair of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Willy Aditya, said the draft Book System Law (RUU Sistem Perbukuan) is intended to guarantee every citizen’s right to books and knowledge, likening books to "food for the brain" and arguing they should be treated on par with basic food. He highlighted the recent closure of many bookstores and publishers as evidence of a fundamental problem in the national book ecosystem.

At a public discussion in Yogyakarta on 6 August 2026, Aditya called for an inclusive policy that removes the current bias where textbooks receive large state subsidies while general‑interest books rely on market forces, leading to high prices. He urged the government to support distribution, tax reforms and infrastructure so that affordable books reach even remote villages, citing historical examples such as Meiji‑era Japan and the European Renaissance to stress the link between knowledge and national progress.