What Basis for Bans

Tots to Teens

Star Mag, 5th November 2006

What basis for bans?

Byline: Daphne Lee

A COLLEAGUE sent me a link to a list of books that have been banned by the Home Ministry.

You can check it out at the Silverfish Books' website.

Looking at the list and trying to think (or not think, as the case may be) like the person in charge of deciding what Malaysians can or can’t read, I could (sort of) see how some of the titles might be deemed unsuitable. That is, I can imagine how someone who doesn’t read or has a dodgy command of the English language or simply doesn’t get out much could maybe feel that some of these books, if read, would cause lasting damage of the morals and pysche of Malaysians.

For example, a book like Anatomy for the Artist: The Dynamics of Human Form may be considered subversive since we all know how Malaysians have absolutely no idea how the human body looks like without clothes on. And Bali Style is obviously restricted because it proves that the Balinese have heaps more style than Malaysians.

As for How to Talk to Your Child About Sex ... well, of course, we should just let them pick up the basics from the Internet and pirated porn DVDs. Or, maybe, they don’t really need to know anything about it. Because there’s no such thing as sex, is there? (Little brother was found in the dumpster, remember?)

My colleague and I had a good chuckle over the banning of Practice of Business Statistics. The cover shows coffee cups against a white background, so I suggested that Mr Home Ministry had just completed a course in lateral thinking, which led him to think: Cups. Cup size. Bras. Breasts. Sex. Rape. Bad. Ban!

Now, believe it or not, there are a few children’s books on the list. They include Spongebob Squarepants titles, a Dora’s Fiesta Adventure ActivePoint Book, Poems & Prayers for Children and Read-Aloud Children’s Classics. Of course, the banning of children’s books is not a new thing. It happens all over the world. In the United States, Britain and Australia, parents’ groups, religious bodies, libraries and schools might ban certain books. Whether it’s right or wrong is a matter of personal opinion, I guess. What some may consider completely innocuous, may be deemed a bad influence by others.

I do believe, however, that parents are the only ones who can decide what their children should or shouldn’t read. If you’re concerned about your kids’ choice of reading material, then pay attention and advise accordingly. And, sorry, but I don’t count opinions that are based just on the cover image, title and synopsis.

I think parents have to read a book if they want to pass judgment on it. Same goes for Mr Home Ministry. Did he think Patrick Star of SpongeBob Squarepants fame was dressed a bit too skimpily? Was Dora the Explorer’s adventurous nature considered unbecoming for a little girl? Or did the word “fiesta” in the title convince him that she was a party girl with loose morals? The mind boggles!

And speaking of banning, would it be better if whatever offended Mr Home Ministry was simply censored? Ask yourself: Would you rather your kids didn’t get to read about SpongeBob at all, or if the copies available had the offensive bits snipped, torn or blacked out? Yes, yes, I know, most of us would just like our books complete and untampered with, but it looks like this may not always be an option anymore.