A total of 26,864 foreign women had been found to be involved in prostitution over the past five years, said Prime Minister and Internal Security Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in a written Parliamentary reply today.

He was responding to Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Gelugor), who had requested him to state the number of foreign women smuggled or cheated into coming to Malaysia and forced into prostitution from 2000 to 2005.

She also questioned the cooperation of the police and immigration department in curbing the problem.

In his reply, Abdullah said the number of women apprehended had increased annually from 3,607 in 2000 to 5,878 in 2003.

In 2004, the figures went down to 5,783 while until May this year, it stood at 2,323.

Indonesia, China top list

The breakdown according to the nationalities of these women saw Indonesia topping the list with over 2,000 arrested every year.

This was followed by China, with 196 arrests in 2000 to 1,821 last year. Thailand is at number three, with 1,131 arrests in 2003, 1,124 in 2004 and 448 until May this year.

As for the steps taken by the police, Abdullah said this involved checking on premises suspected of having prostitutes, arresting and sending back foreign women who work in such premises, charging the owner of the premises in court, and carrying out joint operations with other enforcement agencies