[6] 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.
[8][9] Men from every race in British Borneo including natives, westerners, Chinese were clients of the Japanese prostitutes of Sandakan.
[12] Starting at the end of the 20th century, prostitution has spread over the rest of Malaysia, particularly in the form of massage parlours,[7] and "health centres".
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.
Another woman interviewed in the same program said a YG subsidiary YGX executive brought along a Thai man who raped her.
[3] The Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 adds an offence of exposing another person to the risk of HIV infection.
[1] However Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi suggests this may only apply to Muslims.
[5] Kuala Lumpur has a number of red-light districts where street prostitution, massage parlours and brothels can be found.
While the more downmarket is the RLD at Lorong Haji Taib where Indian, Chinese, and local prostitutes operate.
[7] Another well-known place among locals is Desa Sri Hartamas located in the Segambut district, where massage parlours can also be found.
[22][23] In the Klang Valley, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thais, and Cambodians work as Guest Relations Officers (GROs) in the karaoke and bars.