Women in Malaysia escape sex slavery

A local media report this week highlighted the growing concern for women in the country being abducted and sold into sex work. According to The Malaysian Insider, five women escaped after they were reportedly attacked by unknown assailants who tried to abduct them. The women escaped their would-be abductors who allegedly had plans to sell them. Harian Metro reported that one of the women, who only wished to be known as Ms Najwa, claimed she was abducted near her rented house in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, at 3pm on Monday. However, she escaped when the van ferrying her and four other women stopped at a petrol station in Simpang Pulai, Perak. Najwa, a bank officer in Kuala Lumpur, said she was forced into the van by three men. The incidents have women’s advocates in the country frustrated, but optimistic that police in Malaysia are attempting to put an end to the illegal trade in women for sex work. “I think we should at least see some positives to this situation,” social worker Nora Tantin told Bikyamasr.com, “because until a few years ago the police would do little to assist women and now they are actively trying to protect women from being kidnapped and forced to work as sex workers in the country. “This is a good thing for the country,” she added.