Federal Territory (FT) Umno Youth should look to finding ways to solve the problem of prostitution in Kuala Lumpur, instead of meddling in legitimate enforcement action in Selangor against a resort illegally operated by a party division chief.

Selangor PKR Youth said this, in telling off their FT Umno counterparts for lambasting the seizing and demolition of structures declared to be illegal at a resort owned and allegedly operated without a valid licence by controversial Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos.

"As such FT Umno Youth chief Mohamad Razlan Mohamad Rafii does not need to meddle in Selangor government affairs, and should instead look to solving rampant prostitution in Kuala Lumpur," Selangor PKR Youth secretary Syed Badli Shah Syed Osman said, in a statement.

Syed Badli Shah referred to a Aug 27 disclosure by Majlis Perundingan Pertubuhan Islam Malaysia (Mapim) that Kuala Lumpur was ranked number eight in the listing for red-light cities of the world, with 52 prostitutes for every 10,000 resident.

However, in its statement on the matter, Mapim did not disclose the source or veracity of the ranking and statistics it quoted.

The issue of prostitution in Malaysia's capital is an ongoing concern, with authorities conducting frequent raids to address the matter.

"What is the FT Umno Youth chief doing to solve the prostitution problem and rise in the number of massage centres in Kuala Lumpur," he asked.

Syed Badli Shah urged Mohamad Razlan to focus on issues that directly impacted FT residents instead of what was happening in Selangor.

The Selangor PKR Youth secretary argued that the action against Jamal's resort was legitimate enforcement action, recounting a statement from government officials that it was taken only after the Sungai Besar Umno chief failed to comply with local authority guidelines on permits for operating hospitality premises.

Jamal, however, claimed that he had already submitted his application to local authorities but to no avail.

He also claimed that the matter was political retaliation for his stunt to highlight water shortage in the state by showing up in front of the Menteri Besar's office clad only in towels, asking to bathe.

On Thursday, local authorities in Sabak Bernam sealed Jamal's resort and started demolition works on several structures. However Jamal managed to mobilise lawyers to stay the demolition and was now defiantly operating his resort despite the government sanction.

'Focus on illegal activities'

In a statement later, Razlan said the PKR-led Selangor government should focus on illegal activities in the state instead of going after Jamal.

He said the state government should take tougher action against illegal gambling, prostitution and undocumented migrants in the state.

“These illegal activities are a time bomb for the PKR-led state government which has been harbouring them,” he said.

He added that these should be the focus instead of exacting “revenge” on Jamal.