One young Chinese woman was shown being strip-searched and ill-treated in a Malaysian police station.

Another young Chinese woman claims four Malaysians sexually assaulted her.

These are the latest in a spate of cases where women from China are reportedly being targeted by the country's police and immigration authorities on suspicion of being involved in prostitution.

Malaysia last week launched an investigation into the alleged abuse of the woman in police detention after video clips of the naked woman doing squats were widely circulated, leading to public outrage.

Home Affairs Minister Azmi Khalid said, "This should not have happened. If police personnel are really involved, then this is police abuse," he said in parliament after viewing the clip.

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 yesterday indicated that the minister's visit would probably be postponed until 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 slap 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 the latest case, a woman from South China's Guangdong Province said that she was forced to enter a hotel room by four people who pretended to be police checking for her identification and sexually assaulted her.

The four men have been detained and Abdullah has called for stern action against the suspects.

Malaysia was a major destination for Chinese tourists until this year, which has seen a 42 percent decline in 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 received for winter.

He said it would be helpful if Malaysian officials come to China to promote tourism in their country and dispel any wrong notions.

(China Daily November 28, 2005)