Malaysia revises textbook advising girls to ‘dress modestly’

Malaysia's government will alter an elementary-school textbook which suggested girls should dress modestly to prevent sexual assault, authorities said Wednesday, after it sparked widespread anger.

The textbook, aimed at nine-year-olds, was distributed to all national primary schools in Malaysia.

A picture of the graphic was shared on social media by people who said it was encouraging victim-blaming.

Critics said it showed why better sex education was needed in schools.

While activists believed that the book was teaching children from a young age that female victims of sex attacks only had themselves to blame.

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The graphic tells the story of a character named Amira who protects the "modesty of her genitals" by dressing modestly, changing clothes behind closed doors and avoiding quiet places.

It then lists what would happen should Amira not follow those three steps, saying she would face shame and emotional distress, be ostracised by friends and bring shame onto her family.

Women's Aid Organization Advocacy Manager Yu Ren Chung said that the graphics sexualized nine-year-olds, and placed the burden on them to avoid sexual assault.

The textbox hasn't been recalled but the ministry has sent out a sticker to cover up the graphic.

Deputy education minister Teoh Nie Ching said that the ministry would consider changing the way it produces textbooks, and get experts to check the material before it is sent for printing. Currently, the writers of textbooks are teachers or lecturers who are typical "experts in the field".

The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development said on Thursday that it was looking at possibly introducing some form of sexual education into schools.

It is not the first time authorities in Muslim-majority Malaysia have been accused of taking a poor approach to issues of gender or sexuality.

The health ministry was criticized in 2017 for offering cash prizes for the best videos explaining how to "prevent" homosexuality. The competition was amended following an outcry.