Not on bookshelves of major stores any more

PUTRAJAYA: Checks on major bookstores revealed that they had no stock of Where Did I Come From? which comes under Home Ministry review.

The Malay Mail yesterday found that many retailers had none on their bookshelves. Some had yet to take it down from their online catalogue.

The Home Ministry ordered retailers to stop selling the book pending a review under Section 7 of the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984.

Those found importing or selling the book could face a prison sentence and a fine of up to RM20,000 under the Act.

First published in 1973, Where Did I Come From? was authored by Peter Mayle.

Its front cover states that it provides "the facts of life without any nonsense and with illustrations".

It features illustrations of nude men and women, including genitals, by Arthur Robbins and Paul Walter.

The book has been labeled a best-selling classic with more than two million copies sold worldwide. A 27-minute animated adaptation was made in 1985 narrated by Canada-born comedian Howie Mandel.

It has been reprinted and republished under various publishers several times with between 43 to 56 pages per edition.

Different sources and publications stated it was either for children, aged six and above, or those between four and eight.

Where do we go from here?