Sex education: Allow parents to decide

Joseph Tawie

The Home Ministry’s knee-jerk decision to ban the book ‘Where did I come from?” has angered women in Sarawak

A Sarawak women’s NGO wants the Home Ministry to review its decision to ban the book “Where did I come from?” and allow parents to decide whether or not to purchase the book for their children.

The Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS) said it was puerile of politicians to get more rattled by the book than the Internet which offered free pornography.

“In this day and age our children can switch on the Internet and find pornographic sites showing all sorts of sexual activity; yet our politicians are worried that they might see illustrations or drawings in a child-friendly book which has been in publication for 28 years,” SWWS vice-president Ann Teo said.

“If we are to protect our children, we have to learn to stop thinking that any frank discussion on sex is obscene and find ways where both the child and parent feel comfortable explaining how babies are formed or where babies come from.

“Or do we want them to think they will only become pregnant if the stork delivers them a child?” asked Teo.

She was referring to the Home Ministry’s decision to withdraw temporarily the sale of the book from bookshops nationwide pending studies to determine whether it will affect the minds of the public.

“Yet again efforts to constructively inform our youth via sexuality education have been blocked.

“The reaction of the Home Ministry is another example of why little progress has been made in Malaysia in this field.

“Since the end of the last century, it has been recognised that Malaysian parents need to improve on how they communicate about this fundamental aspect of life with their children.

“Each time we hear about child sexual abuse, or the risk of HIV, or unwanted pregnancies, there are calls for teaching youngsters about the facts of life.

“But each time it is attempted, some throw up their hands in horror and say it is against our culture and thwart the introduction of courses in school or – as has now happened – access to educational materials.

“Could it be they are just uncomfortable talking about the facts of life and sanction this view by calling it culture?” she asked.

Books help parents explain

Teo said if Malaysia was not willing to break with the old ways, then it must be prepared to see more of its youths become vulnerable and isolated due to their ignorance to reach out to them.

“To progress we have to find ways of holding discussions with our children. As many parents don’t know where to start, they look for books which they can read with their children.

“Experts in the field advise sharing (information) with the young (when the latter reach) the appropriate age. Children are less embarrassed before puberty and can grow up feeling comfortable to ask trusted adults about anything they are puzzled about.

“They also learn they can ask for help if anyone tries to have sex with them. Remember children under five have been sexually abused,” Teo said.
Last Tuesday, Home Ministry’s deputy scretary-general (security) Abdul Rahim Mohd Radzi said that the government would prohibit the book written by Peter Mayle should it be found to contain elements which affect public morality.

He said this action was provided for under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

“At the same time, to pacify public protests over this issue, the ministry has received the cooperation of bookshops nationwide to stop selling the book temporarily until studies are completed and a decision made,” he said.