Easy access to prostitution activities through social media platforms
AMY EZREEN
KUALA LUMPUR - Prostitution activities are now actively using WhatsApp, Telegram and WeChat social media application platforms which enable the customers to make reservations or booking just within a few clicks.
It is understood that the syndicate agent, either the pimps or runners would play a role in assigning and sending the selected women to certain locations as requested by the customers.
Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department Director Syamsul Badrin Mohshin said based on the department’s observation and intelligence, it was found that immoral activities involving foreign women in the city were back in full swing during the current endemic phase transition.
He explained that the department also detected the tactics of entertainment centre operators who hid behind restaurant businesses while offering services by foreign women.
“There are offers for these immoral activities as low as RM30 detected in the capital.
"In fact, the fees could reach up to thousands of ringgits depending on the treatment, citizenship and 'grade' of the foreign woman involved," he said when met by Sinar Harian at the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Office here recently.
Commenting further, Syamsul said the customers who were interested in the women would book via order on the WhatsApp or WeChat application before the women were sent to a specific hotel whether high or low class based on the appointment or booking made.
"Similarly, for foreign women who run massage services, the booking system is also used to ensure they are not detected by the authorities," he said.
Syamsul said the booking system was also used for selected customers to gain access to the entertainment centres to reduce the risk of being raided by the authorities.
“Now if you want to enter the entertainment centre, you also have to go through the booking system, in fact, some premises allows only several races as their customers.
"The operator of the premises will then take the woman involved and wait at a set location before being allowed to enter the premises only when instructed," he said.
He said if there was no demand for the women's services, their involvement would not be visible in the premises.
He explained that to ensure that the 'delivery' of foreign prostitutes was secure, the syndicate also hired certain individuals who acted as tonto.
"The tonto will disguise himself as an ordinary person or a caretaker of the premises.
If there was a movement by the authorities, the tonto will immediately inform the movement which results in failed operations,” he said.
A total of 409 foreign women have been arrested since 2020
According to Syamsul, a total of 409 foreign women aged between 19 and 45 were detained through Op Gegar at entertainment centres and massage parlours around the city centre from January 2020 until last April.
He said from the number, a total of 233 Thai women were detained, followed by Vietnam (137), China (10), Myanmar (10), South Korea (six), Indonesia (five), Philippines (three), Cambodia (three), and Laos (two).
“Some of them entered Malaysia using social visit passes or student passes. Some were even managed by syndicates.
"In fact, we also found that there are foreign women who are married to locals, but involved in this immoral activity," he said.
Commenting on the large number of Thai women arrested, Syamsul said it was due to the country's proximity to Malaysia.
"The cost of travel by road may be cheaper and easier than the cost from other countries farther away that have to use the air route," he said.
Cooperation with other agencies
Syamsul stressed that the immigration authorities issued a stern warning to individuals or syndicates involved in offering immoral activities.
Ongoing cooperation and enforcement between immigration, police, local authorities and relevant enforcement agencies would continue to be carried out to combat the immoral activity from spreading, especially in the capital, he added.
"At the same time, the public's awareness of the social problems involved is the key in efforts to eradicate these immoral activities completely," he said.
In the meantime, he said, the public should be made aware of the consequences and risks when using the services of foreign prostitution, especially in terms of the spread of infectious diseases and other social problems.
"Many operations have been carried out, but to ensure that the city is clean from immoral activities, we will increase intelligence and joint action with other enforcement agencies," he said.
