SEX IN MALAYSIA: CUSTOMS, VIEWS, PROSTITUTION

SEX AND NOSE KISSING IN MALAYSIA

Researchers from Malaysia's Merdeka Center for Opinion Research and Indonesia's Lembaga Survei found that only 1.4 percent of young Indonesians and 1.6 percent of young Malaysians polled said premarital sex was acceptable. [Source: Sean Yoong, AP, July 12, 2011]

For some tribes in Borneo the word "kiss" means "smell." In the old days Maori, Malays, Pacific Islanders and Inuits (Eskimos) preferred to rub noses rather than kiss. Describing Malay nose-rubbing Charles Darwin wrote: "The women squatted with their faces upturned; my attendants stood leaning over theirs, and commenced rubbing. It lasted somewhat longer than a hearty handshake with us. During this process they uttered a grunt of satisfaction."

Malaysia is a leading producer of latex condoms (See Below). The use of condoms however is sensitive issue. Love hotels that charge about $15 for a two hour stay are a popular places for young couple to have sex.

Malaysia held a “world's exhibition on adultery.” The 160 exhibits at the Malaysia's National Theater included replicas of medieval chastity belts, posters from Hollywood movies with adultery themes, and painting with the body parts painted out. The turn out was less than expected. Some officials worried it may have helped to promote adultery rather than curtail it.

Chu et al (1977) and Sullivan et al (1977) discussed the public health implications of beetle-eating involving the dermestid, Palembus dermestoides, among Chinese and Malays in Malaysia. These beetles are not used as food but as an aphrodisiac or as a medicinal treatment for a variety of ailments. Both the swallowing of live beetles and of detritus consisting of the insect's feces and chewed herb fragments have been reported. [Source: “Human Use of Insects as a Food Resource”,Professor Gene R. De Foliart (1925-2013), Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2002]

Majority of Malaysians are Satisfied in Bed

In 2012, Simone Camy of MSN wrote: “Durex conducted a survey that explains to us that most Malaysians are getting it right in bed! In conjunction with Valentine's Day, Durex has come up with a survey and this Sexual Well-Being Global Survey has shown that the best gift a man can give to his partner is love. According to the survey, almost 89 percent of Malaysian women agree that sex brings them closer to their partners on an emotional level. The pleasant surprise is that Malaysian men seem to be doing well in bed, as 88 percent of Malaysian women say they feel loved during sex. About 65 percent of Malaysian women and 70 percent of men believe that the emotional aspects of sex - feeling loved, being respected and intimacy - are more important to women than men. [Source: Simone Camy, MSN, February 17, 2012]

Malaysian men and women are also doing well in making their partners happy, with 89 percent of men and 81 percent of women saying their partner is good at providing them with sexual pleasure. 'Sexual well-being is a balance of physical, emotional and sociological factors. It is a fundamental source of confidence and a driver of life. It is great to see that Malaysians seem to be getting it right when it comes to love and sex,' commented Nikhilesh Kalra, Marketing Director, Malaysia and Singapore, Reckitt Benckiser.

The Sexual Well-being Global Survey, commissioned by Durex, was conducted to gain global consumer insights into sexual attitudes and behaviours. The survey is aimed at offering evidence and insights in shaping effective, strategic approaches to improve sexual health and well-being. It was conducted in 36 countries with a total of 29,003 adults aged 18 and above and the Malaysian results have a base of 506 participants!

Adolescent Sex in Malaysia

According to “Growing Up Sexually: “The Malay boy is told by the mudin at circumcision (ages seven to twelve), when the foreskin is loose, “that the boy must have been playing with his penis” (Wilder, 1970) but no consequence was apparently attached. At about twelve (sexual maturity) it becomes the general rule that boys and girls do not associate. “One of the commonest notions held but the adults (though not very openly) is the suspicion of clandestine encounters between boys and girls, or between boys and adult women (divorcees), for purposes of sexual play and sexual intercourse. [Source: “Growing Up Sexually, Volume” I by D. F. Janssen, World Reference Atlas, 2004]

“There is, too, a strong suspicion expressed by adults, which also comes out in teasing among older boys, of voyeurism among the boys of the village”. In the past decades, Malaysia has undergone rapid modernization and social changes, including rising age at marriage and “erosion of traditional limits on interactions between unmarried boys and girls”.. Joining the global scene, there would also have been an increasing awareness that sexual abuse of “children” (<18y) is “a problem” in Malaysia[3]. While measuring lower than Western rates among paramedical students, the authors aimed at dispelling “the Malaysian myth that sexual abuse [of “children”] is a “foreign” disease that has recently “infected [their] country”. Thus, “the awareness of sexual abuse [of children] has increased considerably in Malaysia in recent years and there may still be some way to go in recognition”[4] [arguing for compulsory reporting by professionals].

Of Malaysian male medical students, 40 percent were aware of homosexual feelings prior to age 15 years (opposing a 16 percent current awareness). Almost half of adolescents (15-21, probability household sampled survey carried out in Kuala Lumpur in 1986) who indulged in masturbation, begun earlier in males, were worried by the act, especially females/

In Islamic women, sunnah circumcision (“Female circumcision in the Malay society is now [1993] often performed well before puberty between five and eight years old, and it is getting younger. Many parents prefer to circumcise their daughters immediately after birth”) is in part motivated on the grounds that “it takes away a part of the female body which can enhance her sexuality and promiscuity. Many argue that it is dangerous if a woman is promiscuous and thus she needs to be circumcised”[7]. Also, “[t]hrough circumcision, a Malay girl can preserve her virginity. Virginity in Malay society is a prerequisite and valued highly”.

In one 1994 study, adolescent boys’ psychological experience of the first ejaculation was examined with regard to emotional reactions to the event, informational sources and who should provide the information about the event. Sixty boys were interviewed. 65 percent felt that they were well informed prior to the first ejaculation. Thirty of the boys had ejaculation explained to them by another person, in all cases an adult male. A few discussed the matter with their peers. Majority of the boys reported experiencing strong positive feelings prior to the first ejaculation. Only two were very scared, seven were embarrassed, one upset and three ashamed. The subjects suggested that schools should provide more information about maturation in classrooms”.

Koro

“Koro”is a mental disorder found in Malaysia (similar to other disorders found elsewhere in East Asia) characterized by intense anxiety that one’s sexual organs will recede into the body. Some afflicted with it become so obsessed with the delusion they mutilate themselves, in some cases causing death. There are occasional epidemics of the disorder. One in Singapore in the 1960s was quite famous. [Source: “Cultural Mental Illness: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” by American Psychology Association.]

Professor Kua Ee Heok of the Department of Psychological Medicine, National University of Singapore, wrote in Transcultural Psychiatry: “Koro refers to a syndrome, which has for its central theme a fear of death due to the person’s conviction that his penis is shrinking into the abdomen. The panic-stricken man often clutches on to his penis with bewildered spouse and relatives assisting. The term koro is thought to derive from the Malay word kura which means “tortoise” – the symbolic meaning is that the penile retraction is compared with the retraction of the head of the tortoise into its shell. The syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine is known as suo-yang, which literally means shrinkage of the male sexual organ. In women it may take the form of retraction of the vulval labia or nipple.

“Koro is often viewed as a form of panic disorder with the symptom-complex of fear of penile retraction and impending death, palpitations, sweating, breathlessness and paraesthesia. The factors, which contribute to the occurrence of koro, include beliefs and attitudes pertaining to sexuality. A common Chinese belief is that the loss of semen weakens the body, and loss of yang occurs with masturbation and nocturnal emission. The loss of semen through sexual excesses is thought in traditional Chinese belief to lead to fatal ill-health. Personality traits associated with koro have been described as nervous temperament, suggestibility, sensitivity and immaturity.”

Malaysia — the World’s Largest Condom Maker

Malaysia-based Karex Berhad is the world's largest condom manufacturer

Malaysia is the world’s largest condom maker, producing roughly one in five condoms used worldwide. The industry is led by Karex Berhad, widely recognized as the world’s largest condom manufacturer, with an annual output exceeding 5 billion units. Malaysian-made condoms are exported to more than 150 countries and supplied to international brands as well as public health systems and aid programs. [Source: Karex, Liz Lee, Reuters, March 28, 2020]

The sector’s growth has been supported by several structural advantages, including access to natural rubber, an established manufacturing base, a strategic export location in Southeast Asia, and government support for industrial development. Production is highly export-oriented, with companies such as Karex and Nulatex supplying a wide range of sexual wellness and healthcare products to global markets. Other manufacturers, including P’sang, operate in more specialized or niche segments, often emphasizing product quality and customization.

Quality control is a central feature of the industry. Malaysian manufacturers follow international standards such as ISO 4074 and use electronic testing systems to ensure product reliability and safety. These standards are critical given the role of condoms in public health, particularly in family planning and disease prevention programs worldwide.

Recent developments have highlighted the industry’s sensitivity to global supply chain conditions. Karex has reported strong demand and indicated plans to raise prices by 20 to 30 percent in 2026, citing higher freight costs and ongoing logistical disruptions. Earlier, during the COVID-19 pandemic, temporary factory shutdowns in Malaysia led to significant production shortfalls. At one point, Karex halted operations at its three Malaysian plants for over a week due to lockdown measures, resulting in a deficit of approximately 100 million condoms.

Although production later resumed under restricted capacity, the disruption raised concerns about global supply, particularly for government healthcare systems and humanitarian programs. Industry executives warned that prolonged shortages could have broader public health implications, especially in regions dependent on consistent condom supply through international aid.

Malaysian Men Top Viagra Users

Malaysian men are the world's biggest consumer of Viagra, it Malaysian distributor said in 2001. The BBC reported: “The company, Pfizer Malaysia, said 40,000 Malaysians had been taking the anti-impotency pill regularly since it was made available on prescription more in 1999. The study showed that half of the men were diabetic, while the rest suffered from hypertension, high cholesterol levels or were smokers. Health Minister Chua Jui Meng said the revelation was "alarming"."It's a cause for concern and not a cause for celebration," he told the Star newspaper. He said some men might be tempted to use the drug to enhance sexual performance, rather than because of medial problems. [Source: BBC, November 5, 2001]

The drug is available on prescription in major pharmacies in Malaysia for $10 (38 ringgit) for a 50mg pill and $12.60 for a 100mg pill. Malaysia had a total population of about 22 million people at that time. In 1999, two months after the drug was first marketed in Malaysia, the organisers of a charity golf tournament decided to withdraw a year's supply of Viagra as the top prize. Pfizer Malaysia was one of the sponsors of the tournmanent, but there were a number of complaints that the prize would encourage abuse of the drug. Viagra was initially developed to treat high blood pressure and certain symptoms of heart disease. However, scientists discovered during trials that it also could be used to treat sexual problems in men.

In 2009, Viagra-laced coffee was confiscated after selling as 'energy drink.' Associated Press reported: “More than 900 boxes of Viagra-laced coffee confiscated in Malaysia were being marketed as an energy booster, newkerala.com reported. “The coffee mixture had been distributed in sachets nationwide,” said a report in the New Straits Times Online. “Investigations revealed the distributor attempted to mislead the public by claiming the coffee mixture could provide an energy boost, besides being beneficial for men.” [Source: AP, Fox News, July 06, 2009]

Malaysia Says No to Sex Education

In April 2010, Malaysian authorities said that Sex Education is unnecessary in Malaysian schools and will not be introduced as a specific subject. The New Straits Times reported: “Deputy Education Minister Datuk Puad Zarkashi said at present, elements of sex education in schools are already incorporated in a subject known as social and reproductive health studies. The subject was introduced in secondary schools in 1989 and in primary schools in 1994. "Social and reproductive health studies is taught under health education and encompasses curricula of a wide variety of subjects such as biology, science, additional science, moral studies and religious education," he said. "As such, there is no need for a specific subject called sex education," he added. [Source: New Straits Times, April 28, 2010]

This decision appears to close the discussion on sex education in Malaysia, an issue which has received support from some ministries and organisations. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil has expressed concern on the matter in light of a recent spate of abandoned babies. The National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) has also come on record to support the proposal for sex education in schools, although secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng voiced some reservations. She said teachers are not confident in teaching sex education as they have acknowledged the lack of formal training in the complexity and sensitivity of the subject.

Puad said social and reproductive health studies teachers have attended courses held by experienced trainers. "These courses are designed to expose the teachers to the proper approach which should be adopted in teaching the subject. "Our present syllabus also includes modules on the importance of making the right decisions where sex is concerned," he said. Parents should also play their role in discussing sex education with their children and advising them accordingly. "This will lessen the sensitivity factor related to sexual activities. Parents cannot leave the issue of sex for teachers to handle, they must also speak to their children about it.”

Sex Scandals in Malaysia

In January 2008, Malaysia's health minister resigned after acknowledging that he and a female friend were the couple in a secretly filmed sex video. Sean Yoong of Associated Press wrote: “A one-hour DVD recording circulated anonymously last week showed Health Minister Chua Soi Lek, a married man with three children, performing sexual acts with the woman in a hotel room. Chua, 61, acknowledged he was the man in the video, and described the woman as a "personal friend." He refused to elaborate. The former physician has risen fast in the government in recent years, but the scandal turned into a high-profile embarrassment for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who brought Chua into the Cabinet in 2004. [Source: Sean Yoong, Associated Press, January 2, 2008]

“Chua told reporters he felt the need to take responsibility for his actions. "I think that anyone who is a leader has to be responsible for his mistakes or weaknesses," Chua said. "I feel proud at least I dared to admit. I never said that it was not me (in the DVD). I never even said that it was doctored." But he said that he had discovered that people "could not accept" his public apology."Some Malaysians have a holier-than-thou attitude," he said. Chua had apologized to his family and supporters. He said he did not make the film, suggesting it was made by his political rivals. In a statement, Chua's wife said she stood by her husband. As health minister, Chua has been praised for cutting bureaucratic delays in the medical service and working to combat AIDS, smoking and poor eating habits.”

In April 2013, Malaysiakini reported: “Eight days before nomination day, a video claiming to be of a senior PAS leader having sex with an unknown woman in what appeared to be a hotel room has made its way in several PRO-UMNO bloggers. It depicted a man having sex with an unidentified woman and afterwards getting dressed. Pro-Umno blogger Papagomo has alleged that the woman was paid by PKR, suggesting infighting within the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition. Checks this morning revealed the clip has been taken down by video-sharing service provider YouTube . The Star today reported that images of the video were found in several blogs, such as Kedahan69ers.com and Medan Info Kita . According to the English daily and Utusan Malaysia, police have detected attempts to distribute video compact discs of the purported leader in Besut, Terengganu. [Source: Malaysiakini , April 12, 2013]

“The VCDs and the pornographic images of the leader were placed in an unmarked envelope and distributed to several houses in Kampung Alor Lintang, Besut Terengganu Criminal Investigation Department chief K Manoharan confirmed the video distribution and following the incident, police went to the area to investigate and seized 16 VCDs. "However, the person who distributed the videos could not be detected," said Manoharan, who declined to reveal more, saying that police have yet to view the contents of the video.”

Malaysian Female MP Pressured to Quits over Nude Photos

In February 2009, a prominent Malaysian woman opposition politician resigned her assembly seat after nude photographs of her were circulated on mobile phones as she slammed the government for indulging in "gutter politics". Press Trust of India reported: “Elizabeth Wong, who is Selangor state executive council member and assembly person from Bukit Lanjan, tendered her resignation to her People's Justice Party (PJP). Wong (37), one of Malaysia's top human rights activists said it a plot to discredit her and blamed the current government for indulging in "gutter politics". Opposition leader and PJP chief Anwar Ibrahim said: "No one in the party is pressurising her to leave," he said, adding that he was concerned with the "pattern of tarnishing the opposition party MPs' reputation." "This is a nasty, humiliating personal attack on her and we have seen this pattern of attack in the states of Perak, Kedah and now, in Selangor," he said. "Eli (Wong) is an important leader in our state government with a good track record. We leave it to the wisdom of the Selangor chief minister whether to accept her resignation," Anwar said. [Source: Press Trust of India, February 17, 2009]

Two months later, IANS reported: Wong “has been asked to resume her duties, officials said.” She “had lodged a police report after the photos surfaced in February, claiming they were circulated without her consent. Selangor Chief Minister Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said Wong, 37, has been asked to stay on and resume her duties. The state government believes this is an appropriate and fair decision after taking into consideration views from all quarters, public interest and the fact that police investigations have to date failed to reach a conclusion, Khalid was quoted as saying by the Star online news portal.He said Wong was a victim of intrusion of privacy, and therefore should not be the one to be punished. [Source: IANS, April 15, 2009]

“Local news reports had said the photos were believed to have been taken by her ex-boyfriend without her knowledge in her home. Police have yet to find the suspect for questioning. Wong, who is a well-known human rights activist and is single, had said the scandal was an attempt to discredit her party, led by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

“Sexy” Vietnamese in Malaysia

Reporting from Kuala Lumpur, Neville Spykerman wrote in the Malay Mail: “Taman Sri Bahagia, which houses hundreds of foreign workers, has been labelled "Little Vietnam" for a good reason. The number of Vietnamese there, combined with those of other nationalities, easily overwhelms the locals. But what is worrying the locals are what they claimed to be the embarrassing sexual activities. A resident, who declined to be identified, said the Vietnamese were the dominant community. A dozen terrace houses have been converted into hostels housing between 25 and 50 workers from Vietnam, Nepal and Indonesia. When The Malay Mail visited the housing estate, petite and pretty Vietnamese women were seen on the streets and by the windows of their houses. They are legally employed at factories in Tampoi and buses arrive several times a day to ferry them to and from work. [Source: Neville Spykerman, Malay Mail, The New Straits Times, February 28, 2004 ^*^]

“However, residents claimed these women have attracted a constant stream of local and foreign men to the area to court them. Residents said that besides amorous couples sitting outside their gates till the early morning, there were those who had sex behind the bushes and trees. Another irate resident said that his nine-year-old son told him that he saw a man being "breast-fed" by a woman two weeks ago. ^*^

“A 38-year-old businessman said that his son picked up a used condom and asked if it was a balloon. He has since switched rooms with his son so that the son would not be able to witness the amorous couples in action. The Malay Mail team who surveyed the stretch of land behind Jalan Sri Bahagia 16 on Thursday found several used condoms and old newspapers and wooden planks used by the lovers as bedding during their love-making. The businessman said that he had spoken to the supervisors of the factories nearby to keep their workers in check, but his pleas have obviously gone unheeded. ^*^

Sex Trafficking and Prostitutes in Malaysia

Some of the prostitutes in Malaysia are teenage girls from Indonesia that have been lured away from their villages with promises of good jobs, are smuggled into Malaysia and sold to human traffickers who in turn sell the girls to brothels and pimps, mostly in Sarawak. The going price in Sarawak for a girl who has never had sex is $3,000.

In October 2009, Associated Press reported: “Police detained a Malaysian couple on suspicion of sending hundreds of women to Europe and Australia to become sex workers, an official said. The arrests come amid a crackdown on human trafficking after the U.S. State Department criticized the Malaysian government in June for allegedly failing to combat the problem. Police detained a man and a woman believed to part of an international syndicate based in Kuala Lumpur, said Hadi Ho Abdullah, deputy director of the federal police crime investigation department. The suspects allegedly promised hundreds of Malaysian women lucrative jobs abroad, but instead sold them to prostitution syndicates in Australia and Europe, The Star newspaper reported. Smuggling adults is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. [Source: AP, October 10, 2009]

In October 2011, Jennifer Pak of the BBC wrote: “Malaysian police say they have broken up a ring of human traffickers who forced Ugandan women into prostitution. Twenty-one women, mainly in their 20s, have been released in a sting operation by the police. They were lured with promises of lucrative jobs, before being sent to China and then Malaysia where they ended up as sex slaves. The Ugandan women were trapped in an apartment block near Kuala Lumpur. Over the last three months, they were forced to have sex with customers for 10 hours a day./-/

“The women were beaten and raped by their captors if they tried to refuse. One victim relayed her ordeal to a Ugandan embassy official who posed as a customer. Malaysian police then put the apartment block under surveillance for two weeks before storming in to rescue the women. Two females were arrested for trafficking. /-/

“Malaysia is used as both a transit point and destination country for human traffickers. The government has often been criticised for its weak enforcement and there are allegations that some of its immigration officers are involved in human trafficking. That is why Malaysia has been placed on the US government's human trafficking watch list for the past few years. Police say this latest bust shows that they are serious about tackling the problem. /-/

Chinese Women Working as Prostitutes in Malaysia

An increasing number of young women in Yunnan Province are willingly going to Thailand and Malaysia to work as prostitutes or are being ordered by their families to work in brothels in these countries because the money is good. Girls from the Dai minority are particularly sought after in Thailand because they are regarded as beautiful and their language is similar to Thai. [Source: New York Times]

One 20-year-old woman in the Mekong River village of Langle told the New York Times, “If you can’t go to Thailand and you are a young woman here, what can you do? You plant and you harvest. But in Thailand and Malaysia I heard it was pretty easy to earn money so I went....All the girls would like to go, but some have to take care of their parents.”

The girls work in bars and most of the money they take in tricks goes to their pimp or brothel owner. The money they earn comes from “tips” by customers. Many make their way across the border hidden in the baggage compartment of buses and hope to get lucky and meet and marry an overseas Chinese or at least bring enough money back for a better life for themselves and their families.

Many are unable to save much even after a couple of years. Some do quite well and this is often reflected by the nice homes — with satellite television, air conditioning, generators and tile designs — owned by their parents. Some families with several daughters live in chateau-like homes with chandeliers, leather-covered sofas, golden Buddhist altars and fancy home entertainment centers. Dai boys often don’t like the set up because the girls who return from Malaysia and Thailand come back snobby and don’t want to have anything to do with them.

Couple in Penang Arrested for Roadside Sex Are Rescued by Police in Water-Filled Ditch

Police in Penang detained a couple after a series of events that began when officers approached a parked car on the emergency lane of the Butterworth Highway. The vehicle had raised suspicion, prompting police to stop and check on the occupants. Inside, they found a 19-year-old man and his 25-year-old girlfriend engaged in intimate activity. [Source: Coconuts KL October 22, 2019]

When the driver realised police were present, he attempted to flee the scene, driving toward the Bagan Ajam toll area. Officers pursued the vehicle, which soon lost control. During the attempted escape, the car struck a roadside railing and collided with a motorcyclist traveling in the same direction.

The vehicle then veered off the road and ended up in a water-filled drainage ditch. Police officers at the scene rescued both occupants from the car. Neither of them suffered serious injuries. The motorcyclist involved in the crash was taken to hospital and treated for a broken foot. Police later confirmed that the couple tested negative for drugs and alcohol and were believed to be students at a local college. Authorities investigated the case as reckless driving.

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 5: East/Southeast Asia:” edited by Paul Hockings; 1993; New York Times; Washington Post; Los Angeles Times; Smithsonian magazine; Encyclopedia.com; National Geographic; Live Science; Malaysia Tourism websites; Malaysia government websites; UNESCO; Metropolitan Museum of Art; Natural History magazine; Times of London; Library of Congress; The Conversation; The New Yorker; Time; BBC; CNN; Reuters; Associated Press; AFP; Lonely Planet Guides; Google AI; Wikipedia; The Guardian and various websites; books and other publications.

Last updated May 2026