Prostitution in Malaysia
Prostitution in Malaysia is restricted in all states despite it being widespread in the country. Related activities such as soliciting and brothels are illegal. In the two states of Terengganu and Kelantan, Muslims convicted of prostitution may be punishable with public caning. There were an estimated 150,000 prostitutes in Malaysia in 2014 and that the country's sex trade generated US$963 million. History For 200 years, except in wartime, prostitution was only apparent in small areas of George Town, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuantan and Kuala Lumpur, serving loggers, tin miners and sailors. During the Japanese occupation of Malaya in the Second World War, the Japanese set up a number of brothels for their troops to "prevent the rape of local women by Japanese soldiers, to limit anti-Japanese resistance in the occupied area, to protect the soldiers from venereal disease and to avoid international disgrace". Many local women between 17 and 28 were forced to work in the brothels, employed as what were euphemistically termed "comfort women". Starting at the end of the 20th century, prostitution has spread over the rest of Malaysia, particularly in the form of massage parlours, and "health centres". Foreign prostitutes in Malaysia Originally the prostitutes were locals, but there has been an influx of foreign sex workers over the last 10 years. Prostitutes from China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia now outnumber locals. In 2012, the Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies divisions of the police arrested 12,234 prostitutes throughout the country, of which 9,830 were foreign nationals, including 5,165 Chinese, 2,009 Thais and 1,418 Indonesians. Legal situation There are no federal laws against prostitution but there are laws against related activities. Section 372 of the Penal Code criminalises soliciting in any place and living on the earnings of a prostitute. The latter is applied against those who run brothels. The Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 adds an offence of exposing another person to the risk of HIV infection. Local health regulations prevent health and beauty establishments (which includes massage parlours) from employing sex-workers. Various other laws such as those against vagrancy are also used against sex-workers. Kelantan The Sharia Criminal Offences Act, which brings Sharia law into force, is in effect in Kelantan. Sharia law allows fines and public whipping or caning for "any woman who prostitutes herself". Buying of sex is also forbidden. However Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi suggests this may only apply to Muslims. Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur has a number of red-light districts where street prostitution, massage parlours and brothels can be found. The most upmarket area for prostitution, and probably the best known, is Bukit Bintang. While the more downmarket is the RLD at Lorong Haji Taib where Indian, Chinese, and local prostitutes operate. Close by is the Chow Kit area where transgender prostitutes ply at night. Changkat Bukit Bintang, Chow Kit, Jalan Alor, Jalan Hicks, and Jalan Thamibipilly in the Brickfields area are known red-light districts. Street walkers operate around Jalan Petaling. Another well-known place