According to the report in The Star, seven of the 19 men arrested in the northern Malaysian city of Penang were local customers, two were caretakers of the venues and the remaining 10 were sex workers from Thailand, Vietnam, China, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The newspaper said it learnt that the two shops had restarted its operations recently after being closed down for two to three months. The report did not state the reasons for the two venues being closed down.

Regular customers are given a password to enter the venue which is monitored by two closed circuit television cameras at the front entrance.

A police spokesperson said the case will be investigated under Section 377(B) of the Penal Code which prohibits carnal intercourse against the order of nature, and Section 6(3)(c) and Section 39 (b) of the Immigration Act.

The report also mentioned that the police nabbed seven women from China in a raid at an unlicensed entertainment outlet in Gurney Tower.