SEPTEMBER 23 — I am greatly disturbed by Bukit Aman’s response to the video “Trapped – The Underage Sex Industry in Malaysia” as reported by The Star Online on 21 September 2014.

The Secret Societies, Gambling and Vice Division principal assistant director SAC Datuk Roslee Chik was quoted in the news portal saying that sex is not an “industry” but only “activities” as it is “not that big”.

Nevertheless, Havocscope, an international organisation that specializes in collecting global black market information, estimates that the size of the black market value of prostitution in Malaysia amounts to US$963 million.

Is a RM 3 billion illegal sex trade market not big enough to be considered an “industry” to Bukit Aman?

Sex worker group is also identified as one of the four largest groups for HIV infection by Malaysian AIDS Council & Malaysia AIDS Foundation and 74 per cent of new HIV infections was caused by sexual transmission in 2013. 

Therefore, the problem of illegal sex trade should not to be taken lightly as described by Roslee by saying it is “not that big”. 

Such lukewarm attitude towards the complex problem is not acceptable.

Bukit Aman should focus on providing the solutions.  The video highlighted the glaring issue of underaged sex workers, we need to know how many children, foreign or local, are kidnapped, cheated or trafficked into selling their bodies and what we can do to help them.

Another issue that was highlighted in the video is human trafficking. This should serve as a reminder to Putrajaya of our downgrade to Tier 3 in United State’s “Trafficking in Persons Report” as a result of not complying to the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and has shown no significant efforts in doing so for two consecutive years. 

Following the downgrade, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has on 10 July 2014 announced the formation of high-level committee on human trafficking to tackle the problem.

Any plans from the high-level committee yet? It is two years late and is Putrajaya going to delay further?

Video such as “Trapped – The Underage Sex Industry in Malaysia” reveals shocking facts about Malaysia that most Malaysians are not aware of.

As a responsible government, instead of brushing aside, finding fault or denying it, it is better to find solutions to this complex problem, through better legislation and enforcement.