PELACURAN DI NEGERI SELAT

Abstract

This article examines the history of prostitution in the Straits Settlements which comprised Singapore, Penang and Malacca. In order to have clear pictures on the 'oldest profession', the statistics on prostitution activities based on primary sources are included. Further, the spread of diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea are discussed to show the extent of impact of prostitution activities in the Straits Settlements. According to the records available for the year 1916, Singapore became the centre of prostitution activities that involved mainly Chinese and Japanese women. Similar developments took place in Penang where these two ethnic groups also dominated the profession. It is believed that women were brought to the Straits Settlements as prostitutes in the 19th century partly due to the disprotionately lower number of female immigrants in these states compared to male immigrants.