Raja Petra Kamarudin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
By Channel NewsAsia's Malaysia Correspondent Melissa Goh
Malaysia has witnessed a sharp increase in foreign sex workers in recent months and they are now posing a threat to the stability of Malaysian families.
They work illegally in karaoke lounges and pubs scattered across major Malaysian cities.
Closely guarded by local agents, they operate in small groups to avoid detection by the police.
These foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals, enter Malaysia via an intricate web of agents and dealers.
For the first few months of their stay, every dollar the girls earn go towards paying off their debts, including airfare, visa and administrative fees.
While some mainland Chinese women go into prostitution with their eyes open, others say they were forced into this grim job.
They say they came to Malaysia believing in the promise of a better life.
Their growing numbers have cast a negative light on legitimate mainland Chinese working or studying in Malaysia.
Catherine Wang, Hotel Management Student from China, said: "Their illegal acts have caused Malaysians to be prejudiced against us. Malays and Indians look down on us. To them, we are seen as easy and vulnerable and that puts us in a lot of danger."
Many of the Chinese nationals caught soliciting have overstayed their tourist visas.
Michael Chong, Complaints Bureau Chief, Malaysia Chinese Association, said: "They should go for the pimps, these girls you catch them you put them in lockups you sent them back but the pimps are still doing the things. According to them they pay about 17,000 to 20,000 ringgit per girl depending on how beautiful they are."
Chew Mei Fun, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Malaysia, said: "This problem has broken up many happy families. It's a serious social issue and my ministry is very concerned. I received numerous complaints in recent months so I notified the police and they've taken action. However, such activities are everywhere and are spreading from urban to rural areas so they're very difficult to control or eliminate."
Aware of the situation, the Malaysian Immigration Department has halved the permitted period of stay for China tourists, from one month to two weeks.
Beyond enforcement, Ms Chew says the government will try and revive among Malaysian men a strong sense of duty and responsibility towards their families.
Ms Chew said: "What's important is all husbands should put their families first and cherish their relationship with their wives and children because previous instances showed that the husbands always ended up with nothing. Some even had to sell their land and property and were deserted by their families."
To counter these negative influences, the Malaysian government has launched a nationwide campaign called "Bring Your Hearts Homes".
The emphasis is on family and community activities to promote bonding and unity to strengthen the foundation of Malaysian families.
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Posted by Raja Petra Kamarudin to MT-news at 7/17/2005 09:36:00 AM
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