Malaysia last week launched an investigation into alleged abuses
of Chinese women, including a case where a woman was allegedly
abused while under police detention.
The circulation of video clips showing a naked young Chinese
woman being strip-searched and ill-treated in a Malaysian police
station caused huge public outrage.
This is one of the latest in a spate of cases where women from
China are reportedly being targeted by Malaysian police and
immigration authorities on suspicion of being involved in
prostitution.
Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Azmi Khalid said: "This should
not have happened. If police personnel are really involved, then
this is police abuse," he said at a parliamentary sitting during
which the clips were shown.
Azmi told a news conference last Thursday that Malaysian Prime
Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had directed him to visit China to
dispel any misconception that Malaysian authorities have been
targeting Chinese nationals, especially women.
However, Malaysian newspaper Sunday Star indicated on
Sunday that the minister's visit would probably be postponed to
December 20.
"We have begun investigations to determine what the recording is
actually about," the police chief of Petaling Jaya District told
the New Straits Times newspaper.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak demanded tough action against
the culprits.?
"I see that as something serious. This is a smear to our image,"
he told reporters on Friday.?
"I believe the prime minister and the cabinet view this issue
seriously because if the video clips are genuine, it means this is
an act that can affect the image and integrity of the police and
the government," he said.?
The Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur was not available for
comment yesterday.
In another development, a woman from South China's Guangdong
Province said that on November 24, she was forced to enter a hotel
room by four men who claimed to be police officers checking for her
identification. The men allegedly then sexually assaulted her.
The four men have been detained and Abdullah has called for
stern action against the suspects.
According to a Xinhua report on November 26, Malaysian media
said the initial investigation showed that three of the suspects
were air force personnel.
Malaysia was a major destination for Chinese tourists until this
year, which has seen a 42 percent decline in the number of Chinese
tourists, according to its tourism authority.
While the nation is seeking measures to reverse the sharp drop
in Chinese tourist visits, the story of harassment of women is
making matters worse.
However, Wang Jian, spokesman for Guangdong China Travel
Service, said that such incidents are not having a great impact on
the tourism sector, with many bookings already received for the
winter season.
He said it would be helpful if Malaysian officials could come to
China to promote tourism in their country and dispel any
misconceptions.
(China Daily November 28, 2005)