An illustration in the book that is said to be contrary to Malaysian values.
KOTA KINABALU: Private publishers should not be allowed the freedom to sell educational books that provide information contrary to Malaysian values.
State education director Datuk Jame Alip made the call yesterday following complaints on the social media over a book that was published privately and sold in the open market. The book shows an illustration of two men marrying and producing four offspring.
“The illustration goes against our values … it is not good for our pupils to see such pictures. The book is not produced by the Malaysian Education Ministry. It was published by a private publisher and sold in the open market,” said Jame.
He proposed that any education books published privately would have to undergo screening and assessment to ensure they are not contrary to values of the Malaysian people.
Jame also urged heads of primary schools in Sabah where the books were sold to report the agent involved in its distribution to him.
“Please tell me who the publisher is. I will instruct the supplier to reimburse the money that had been paid by the pupils for the books. The books are to be returned and destroyed,” he said.
“Don’t allow private publishers the freedom to sell books that are against our value in schools. If they are allowed to continue, these publishers will simply publish books that lack quality for the sake of profit making.”