Indonesia orders recall of ‘vulgar’ children’s sex-education book

JAKARTA: Indonesia has ordered a publisher to withdraw a sex-education book for children, which addresses the subject of masturbation, for being too vulgar.

The publisher of “I Dare to Sleep Alone and I Learn to Control Myself” apologised for causing any offence but said the book aimed to help parents teach children how to protect themselves from sexual harassment.

The Education Ministry said the book, written by Fita Chakra, contained pornographic content and cited a depiction of a cartoon boy’s thoughts as he hugs a bolster pillow when he can’t sleep. It also includes a part where the boy finds a new game of putting his hand inside his trousers.

“The content of the book is not appropriate for children. It’s too vulgar,” the ministry said in a statement, adding the publisher must recall the book or face “strict sanction”.

Sex education in Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim population, is uncommon and casual conversations about sex are considered taboo.

Awaluddin Tjalla, head of the ministry’s centre of curriculum and books, also said the ministry was speaking to an association of publishers to urge it to take action against the publisher. He did not elaborate.

The author was not immediately available for comment, but the publisher, Tiga Serangkai, said it had consulted psychologists as well as paediatricians when compiling the book.

“Our intention in launching the book was so that we can help parents explain to children about the importance of protecting themselves ... from people with illintention towards them,” it said in a statement.