So far, Thailand was considered the global center of cheap sex. Now another country prepares to become the red center of the world. It is just there preached particularly loud morality.
Flashing neon signs in sultry tropical night, music which penetrates from bars and massage parlors. In between women who are stalking around with a swinging butt on high heels. Her short skirts and tight tops have a clear view of a lot of skin.
"Happy Massage" is on welcoming signs. This is not Bangkok, whose sex industry enjoys a legendary reputation. This is Bukit Bintang, an entertainment district in Kuala Lumpur. The Islamic Malaysia is well on the way to Thailand and the Philippines as a red light center of the world to outdo.
Two contradictory faces of the same country: Malaysia with its multicultural society prides itself while still being one of the more moderate Muslim nations of the earth, at the same time; however, take the orthodox tendencies, such as the number of head veil on the streets of Southeast Asian state.
Female stimuli are taboo. Like Sex
At public buildings across the country emblazoned posters urging a "dress appropriately". Free shoulders and bare knees for women are not allowed to offices. Tight outfits from a woman can cause a national outcry, as happened recently in the case of successful gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi. Although they took in the Southeast Asia Games last summer home six shiny medals for Malaysia, but was still vilified publicly.
The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Jamil Khir Baharom wanted, has recognized under her skimpy leotard "the shape of her vagina," and so he called shrilly for "stricter observance of the Islamic dress rules for sports and other areas". For me it looks like the Malaysian Minister of Islamic Affairs seems to be a sex maniac because he shows with his observations where he is looking during a sports contest. I would like to recommend him urgently to search help in a psychiatric clinic. Other, even the Chair of the Women Wing at the National Muslim Youth Association, Roszida Kamaruddin, joined in with the Minister of Islamic Affairs. Female stimuli are taboo. Just as sex.
Smooching and other intimacies in public are prohibited and will be severely punished. Those caught in sexual conduct in a public place, not only has up to 20 years in prison count, but also by caning.
Prostitution is illegal, but the sex trade flourishes
Three young women have made 2010 headlines, because they were sentenced as first "delinquents" of this kind to blows. They had slept before marriage with men. Meanwhile, arranged by the sharia corporal punishment for similar offenses are hardly special messages in Malaysia.
Prostitution is - in contrast to other countries - in Malaysia illegally. Yet the trade flourishes with sex than in almost any other country. The Malaysian sex industry is worth the equivalent of over 960 million dollars, it is said on the website of Havocscope Global Black Market information that examines the global black market.
Even 200 years ago found foreign loggers, sailors and miners on the Malaysian peninsula ladies who hawked their bodies. But these prostitutes worked mainly in clearly defined sin miles in the big cities. Today there is are small brothels, the love hotels and "massage parlors" have everywhere spread in the country - even in regions where the ultra-conservative Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) is in charge. And the Internet erotic services are quite open. The authorities look somewhere else, while simultaneously preaching morality, whenever they can.
In Germany, where prostitution is not immoral since 2001, coming in section 49 prostitutes at 10,000 people. Even Thailand is by far not as a cesspool, as many believe the West: There are only 45 sex workers per 10,000 people. But in Malaysia with so many demurely veiled women and strict regional sharia, there are even 52.
The commercial sex was visible to all. But nobody talks about it. On the contrary: The ruling party United Malays National Organization (Umno) of Prime Minister Najib Razak is located chaste and puritanical. Najib is accused of corruption. His coalition has plugged a low blow after another. She needs every voter, they can get. And therefore it curries favor of the Conservatives and uses the religion for their election campaign.
"Women are punished, but no one thinks to their customers"
"Politicians are afraid that it calls into question their piety, because then they annoy voters or could lose," said the woman activist Ivy Josiah. She had defended a prostitute last year, which was arrested by an undercover policeman and sentenced in court to six months in prison because they had offered him sexual services. One should not condemn sex workers, said Ivy Josiah. "It is always sad that women are constantly punished for such acts while not given a thought to their customers."
Malaysian women prostitute themselves mostly out of necessity. Many are single mothers. In addition, an increasing number of students who can pay for their education or a little luxury of suitors, because there are hardly any scholarships or even something like student loans.
Over the past decade also flow women and girls from poorer neighboring countries of Burma, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, in Malaysia's brothels. The US has set the country on the black list of states with particularly nasty trafficking and even child prostitution. According to reports, even police officers involved in human smuggling. Again, the politicians mostly closed eyes.
Instead, they discuss publicly whether their home the "Hudud", the strict Sharia criminal law, is intended to introduce, and flare up further on to scarce jerseys their sports stars. Simultaneously, the streetwalker evening walks further lasciviously over the sidewalks. Demand is high: A roaring trade in a bigoted society.