Singapore: NLB’s decision to withdraw books based on “community norms”: Minister

Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim listed three reasons explaining NLB’s decision to pull the three children’s books for not being “pro-family”: Channel News Asia

Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim on Friday (July 11) wrote a Facebook post explaining the Government’s approach with regard to the National Library Board’s (NLB) decision to withdraw three books for not being “pro-family”. He said NLB’s decision was based on “community norms”.

He clarified that the withdrawal of the books was not based on a single complaint, without an attempt to asses its merit. “NLB has a process where its officers carefully consider such feedback, before making a decision,” he wrote.

Dr Yaacob also stated that “NLB is not deciding what books children can or cannot read. That decision remains with the parents, as it always has been.”

Below is his full post on Facebook: