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Video: Trapped — The underage sex industry in Malaysia
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Published on Sep 12, 2014
An exposé of the dark underbelly of Kuala Lumpur, where underage girls from other Asian countries work in the sex trade — some of their own choice, others brutalized victims held as virtual prisoners. We speak with some of the girls, as well as police, social workers and psychologists. Produced and directed by Mahi Ramakrishnan and Rian Maelzer.
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A screen grab from the YouTube clip entitled ‘Trapped – The underage sex industry in Malaysia’. – YouTube, September 20, 2014.—
Bukit Aman claimed that a video report on underage sex trafficking in Malaysia was “lopsided” and portrayed the country as being a sex hub.
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Free Malaysia Today
Sex trafficking happens in our backyard
56% of trafficking cases occur in Asia and 161 countries are guilty of being involved in this illicit flesh trade.
By Syerleena Abdul Rashid
Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery. It is a lucrative trade that exploits people and according to the United Nations, this industry alone generates roughly $32 billion each year and has been identified as the second fastest growing criminal enterprise – trailing closely behind drug trafficking.
Reports also highlight that around 20.9 million people, worldwide, are being bought and sold to fill the demands of labour.
Men and boys are usually trafficked for various positions within the construction sector, agriculture, textile or fishing industries, while women and girls are often trafficked to fill the demands of the commercial sex industry. It is also reported (by UN) that approximately two million children are exploited in the global commercial sex trade, every year.
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In a study conducted by Suhakam in 2003, it was discovered that 27 of the 54 women incarcerated in the Kajang Women’s Prison for prostitution, were trafficked into Malaysia.
The interview also established the nationalities of those incarcerated; five out of eight were Indonesians, one out of four were Chinese and approximately 15 were Thai women trafficked into the sex trade in Malaysia.
The study also reported that out of approximately 1,485 foreign women, 275 were less than 18 years old and were identified as potential victims of trafficking.
Although this study is approximately a decade old, one can safely assume that present figures are much higher, especially if unreported cases were included.
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…when the video “Trapped – The underage sex industry in Malaysia” made headlines, the authorities were once again quick to deny its existence, and downplayed the atrocities of sex trafficking in our country.
Denial will not make this depravity go away. Sex trafficking is a grave concern for everyone as the horrors of trafficking is too real and it happens, whether you believe it or not, in our own backyard.
Although, some of these ‘activities’ are quite noticeable such as street prostitution, most of these activities remain carefully hidden from public scrutiny and are offered in unmarked brothels, spas, massage parlours and karaoke clubs.
Some of these deplorable dens are also located in seedy areas and some in unsuspecting suburban neighbourhoods.
Syerleena Abdul Rashid is DAPSY Bukit Bendera Secretary as well as DAP Wanita Bukit Bendera Political Education Director
Read the full article in:
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Star
Sunday September 21, 2014 MYT 8:25:58 PM
Bukit Aman: Ours is not sex industry
PETALING JAYA: Bukit Aman claimed that a video report on underage sex trafficking in Malaysia was “lopsided” and portrayed the country as being a sex hub.
Secret Societies, Gambling and Vice Division principal assistant director Senior Asst Comm Datuk Roslee Chik said the report did not give the real picture of Malaysia’s sex trade; which he said was “not that big.”
“The term ‘sex industry’ used in the video is very wrong and negative.
“In Malaysia, the existence of prostitution is undeniable – just like in other countries. But the level of enforcement minimises these activities.
“Sex is not an industry in Malaysia, the term ‘sex activities’ is more accurate.
“Industry would mean the profits are as big as in Thailand where the sex industry is legal,” he told The Star Online.
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YAHOO! NEWS MALAYSIA
Underage sex trafficking in Malaysia real, video reveals
The Malaysian Insider
Malaysia, which has been downgraded to Tier 3 for its lack of progress in fighting human trafficking, now has another damning piece of evidence against it in a video documentary on the underage sex trade in the capital.
The video, now on YouTube and titled “Trapped – The underage sex industry in Malaysia”, is the result of two years of research by journalists Mahi Ramakrishnan and Rian Maelzer.
Mahi said she was working on another story four years ago when she stumbled upon one that was much bigger – that of underaged foreign children used in the sex trade. It shocked her, as she had never imagined that such a thing was happening in Malaysia.
“I never knew that such a thing existed in Malaysia. I mean, everyone knows that this happens in Thailand but I really had no idea that the underage sex trade was alive and well here,” she told The Malaysian Insider.
“You hardly hear about it and no one really addresses it. It is really under-reported.”
An investigative journalist, Mahi decided she would follow the story and began devoting many nights to visiting “dubious” areas in Bukit Bintang and Chow Kit in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.
“I talked to everyone. I spent hours every day in these areas and these people even laughed at my face. They denied that there was such a thing.”
But discussions with child rights advocate Dr Hartini Zainuddin encouraged this USA Today correspondent to pursue the story despite the challenges.
Two years later, Mahi, with the help of another journalist, Maelzer, finally finished a video highlighting the plight of underage sex workers in Malaysia and the concerns surrounding the issue.
For the rest of the article, read
https://my.news.yahoo.com/underage-sex-trafficking-malaysia-real-video-reveals-103019651.html
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weehingthong 