The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry yesterday denied a newspaper report on the arrest of six young girls in Malacca who were said to be sex workers.

Its minister, Rohani Karim, said enforcement agencies in Malacca, like the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and the National Drug Agency, confirmed there was no case involving the arrest of young girls when they conducted the anti-narcotic operations.

“However, PDRM and the Malacca Social Welfare Department confirmed a case involving a girl who ran away from home and is suspected to be involved in drug abuse and sexual activities.

“The girl has been rescued and placed at an institution under the Social Welfare Department for rehabilitation,” she said in a statement last night.

She was referring to a report in an English newspaper yesterday which carried the headline ‘RM20 - that’s the going price for a child prostitute’.

- Bernama