THE trigger was the insane number of neon signs showing acupuncture points on the soles of the feet. They had been sprouting in the district, like mushrooms after a downpour.
People would doubt that the large number of men forming queues outside these “reflexology centres” were waiting to have their “qi” unblocked.
As part of its initiative to restore order in several hot spots, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) conducted a sting to understand the intricacies of this problem and establish the money trail of the prostitution business.
MACC ’s intelligence division set up its own “reflexology centre ”, complete with a dodgy section at the back for extra services, just as its competitors had done.
In less than a week, it got that much-awaited visit.
“Hello! sudah bagi salam pada Abang Long kawasan?” ( Have you paid your respects to the area chief?), said a man to the undercover MACC officer.
The formula to run a vice den that rakes in multi-million ringgit in profits is simple. Be willing to part with roughly RM10,000 a month.
The man making the rounds to collect protection money would assure owners of illicit businesses that the local authority or police would not disrupt their operations, and that licensing would be a breeze.
He and his organisation had them under their control, said MACC.
MACC had felt the need to address the problem, which had been left to the local authorities and police to deal with.
MACC has identified 146 illegal massage parlours here, all offering sexual services. Another 345, which have licenses, are their direct competitors, also offering illegal services, including sex and body-to-body massages.
MACC Deput y Chief Commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki said although these illicit businesses did not involve leakages of government funds, the problem, if left unchecked, would have serious repercussions on the country.
Sources with knowledge of the illicit money exchanging hands between the premises owners and the authorities said it easily involved RM40 million a year.
On Saturday, the Immigration Department swooped in on some premises here offering illicit services.
In a raid yesterday, MACC detained in 16 people, including those who allowed these illicit premises to operate unchecked.
They included officers with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall involved in licensing and enforcement, and several policemen, including a station chief, as well as a fireman who allegedly gave his nod for the premises to operate.
The money that had changed hands for this case was RM74,300.
MACC also took on members of the underworld who had been greasing the palms of enforcers to allow them to run their business.
It picked up five of the mobsters and their runners, including the one who had knocked on the doors of the MACC set-up.
The suspects, who are expected to be remanded at the Putrajaya magistrate’s court yesterday, are being investigated under Section 117 of the Penal Code for abetting the commission of an offence by the public, or by more than 10 persons.
They are liable for imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both.