Malaysian academic: Blindly banning sex toy industry is questionable

Recently, renowned Malaysian academic Tan Jinsong (Chief Operating Officer of the University of Kuala Lumpur) published an article in the media, expressing his doubts about the Malaysian government’s indiscriminate ban on sex toys.

Erotic Vibrating Massager Photo by: Pexels

The Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs launched a large-scale crackdown on sex toys in early 2024 and seized a total of 2,295 adult sex toys, including many vibrating massage sticks, oversized simulation toys, silicone female dolls and other self-pleasure devices. A total of four suspects were arrested in the four states of Johor, Penang, Perak and Sarawak in Malaysia. Sexual and moral issues related to sex toys have begun to surface. The Secretary of the Monitoring and Enforcement Group of the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs, Nik Yosemi, reiterated that the import, sale, display, transportation and possession of adult sex toys are all illegal. acts. Once the above-mentioned activities are discovered by the authorities, strict measures will be taken.

The Malaysian Home Ministry launched an operation and seized a total of 2,295 Chinese-made adult sex toys with a market value of RM70,000, and arrested 4 suspects at the establishment.

The question of whether the regulation of sex toys should be “strict” is a topic that deserves discussion. Sex itself is very secret, very personal and very shy. However, should the pursuit of sexual happiness, sexual freedom and sexual pleasure also be “guaranteed” without hindering others?

Sex toys or adult toys refer to specific tools used in intimate life between the sexes or to stimulate human organs or other parts to obtain pleasure. Types of sex toys include: vibrators, airplane cups, inflatable dolls, sexy underwear, etc. In a conservative society, this industry has always been full of mystery. Take a neighboring country as an example. This industry was illegal before 1995, and sex toy stores were banned for “distribution of obscene materials”. But after 2000, sex toy stores operate legally in many areas, and there are even sex toy stores in central stores in big cities.

Erotic Vibrating Massager Photo by: Pexels

With the popularity of the Internet, the number of people using sex toys is increasing. Statistics show that the emerging market of sex toys in China is worth more than 100 billion yuan (about 64 billion Malaysian ringgits). At present, China is the country that exports the most sex toys in the world, accounting for 70% of the world’s total. By the end of November 2023, the number of sex toy-related enterprises in mainland China had exceeded 700,000.

In fact, as the younger generation born in the 90s and 2000s becomes more open-minded, more and more people are beginning to face their normal desires. Chinese surveys show that 35% of respondents want to try sex toys, 28% think sex toys are enjoyable, 27% remain neutral, and 20% feel shy and embarrassed by sex toys.

Taking the United States as an example, about 50% of men have used sex toys. But women use sex toys more, about 60-65%. Data shows that most couples or couples use sex toys and people who use sex toys are more satisfied with their sex life.

Health educators in Taiwan Province of China generally believe that to understand one’s own body, one can explore oneself through sex products. However, sex toys themselves are just “toys”, they have no body temperature or emotions, and cannot replace real people. As for women becoming the main consumers of sex toys, Huang Ruiru, a Taiwanese gender expert, analyzed that in the past, women’s sexual needs were suppressed by society. However, times have changed in today’s society. , the number of women with high income, old age, and higher education has increased. Women’s sexual needs have also increased. This need can be relieved through sex toys.

Thailand is considered a sexually liberal country, but sex toys are still classified as contraband in Thailand. In April last year, the Democratic Party of Thailand proposed to lift the control of contraband sex toys and liberalize the development of the sex toy industry. The party proposes to remove sex toys from Article 287 of the Penal Code and turn them into controlled objects subject to supervision by government agencies. The party believes that sex toys are devices used to relax, reduce stress or stimulate sexual sensations. They can help improve the sexual experience of patients with sexual disorders, but also reduce the spread of infections and reduce the rate of sexual crime.

Currently, Japan, Singapore, Germany, the Czech Republic and other countries have classified sex toys as legal products, and people can openly produce, sell and purchase them. Although Malaysia has long banned the sale and use of sex toys, data from the Malaysian Department of Statistics revealed that the number of sex crime cases increased by 2.9% in 2022, reaching 3,303 cases, compared to 3,209 cases in 2021. As for 2022, rape cases in our country will increase by 9.6%.

Noor Azimah Muhammad, a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine at the National University of Malaysia, said a 2021 study showed that many students were not staying away from erotic culture due to the ban on sex toys, but many were starting to engage in it in high school. The 2022 National Morbidity and Health Survey released by the Malaysian Ministry of Health shows that a third of Malaysian adolescents engaged in puppy love before the age of 14, and the remaining two-thirds did so between the ages of 13 and 17. or even intimacy.

Malaysian society is trying to block sex toys, which is a waste of public resources and even unreasonable. If society cannot clearly see the sexual health problems and sexual physiological confusion faced by adolescents, and in the absence of sexual health education, related crimes will only increase. On Orchard Road, the busiest city center in Singapore, I saw a sex toy store. The owner revealed to me that it was not crowded, but it was helping people in need.

Uncovering the mystery of sexual health requires institutionalized management and effective advice rather than generalized confinement. Don’t you find it questionable to consider sex toys as scourges?

Chen Jinsong: Principal of Malaysia’s largest independent university and China Operations Director of Kuala Lumpur Construction University. He has served as Executive Vice President of INTI Beijing Institute of Economics and Business and Director of China Office, Director of International Student Office of Southern University College, Principal of UCSI University China and New Era University College Senior Director of Admissions Office, Director of Cultural Affairs Office of Datong Hanxin College of Communication, Editor-in-Chief of newspapers and Editor-in-Chief of magazines, he has lived in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing, China for over 10 years.