Malaysia bans British children sex education book “Where Did I Come From”

Malaysia banned an almost 40- year-old sex education book for children following complaints by public that the book is obscene.

The Home Ministry said the book is banned on the grounds that it contains elements “detrimental to the society’s morals and public interest”.

“Where Did I Come From” by British author Peter Mayle features cartoon illustrations of female and male genitalia that describes the reproductive process and was intended for children aged between four and eight.

The book sold two million copies since it was first published in 1973.

A youth leader of the Muslim-majority country’s ruling UMNO party was the first who noted the book and lodged a complaint last week, prompting the government to order the book to be removed from shelves for investigation.

“The person to blame here is not so much about the writer because his writings and products may be accepted in his country but this country has a different set of values,” Muhd Khairun Aseh, the UMNO youth leader said.

“To talk about the sensational feeling of making love and the rubbing of genitals  how is that suitable for children,” he told reporters.

 The Home Ministry said anyone convicted of circulating and distributing the book would be fined 20,000 ringgit (6,612.66 U.S. dollars) or jailed three years or both. <Xinhua>

news@theasian.asia