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)