British author’s ‘sex’ book banned

The Malaysian government has banned writer Peter Mayle’s book Where did I come from? and has ordered shops to stop selling it.

The illustrated book, which aims to help parents explain to children such topics as sex, conception and birth.

The publication’s cover describes itself as “the facts of life without any nonsense”.

Presently, it has been banned pending a review but, according to a statement by a senior official, but it could be banned completely “if it is proven to contain elements harmful to public morals and corrupt people’s minds”, the BBC reported.

“The ministry has obtained the co-operation of book sellers around the country to immediately stop sales until the review is completed and the decision is made,” deputy secretary for safety, Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi, said in the statement.

It said the ministry was taking action under section seven of the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 and if the book was banned, anyone importing or selling it could face a jail sentence and a fine of up to 20,000 ringgit.

The ministry did not specify how long the review would take or how many copies were in circulation.

In November last year Malaysian officials banned a book entitled ‘Islamic Sex’ that offers sex tips to Muslim women.

The Home Ministry told the Malaysia Star newspaper that book was banned because its content infringed censorship laws.

Officials said anyone found with a copy of the book could be fined and anyone making copies for distribution faced a jailsentence and a fine.

Peter Mayle, 72, was born in Brighton and is the author of a string of books, including international bestsellers ‘A Year in Provence’ and Toujours Provence’.