I support your readers' call for legalising of the sex trade. In the long-term, legalisation, and with it, regulation, will mitigate the exploitation of sex workers and spread of HIV and other sexually transmittable diseases (STD).

The way to end exploitation and oppression of women sex workers by syndicates and gangsters is to strike at where it matters (its lucrative income source and the demand side) by providing an legal alternative, with appropriate public health measures put in place.

Customers may patronise the sex workers, who can operate under regulated conditions. The risk of STDs spreading via customers to their spouses and the larger population ought to be minimised.

It is time to be practical and intelligent rather than moralise about this burgeoning social problem.

Since time immemorial, moralising against the vice trade has not ameliorated nor eradicated the oldest profession.

Nor have other knee-jerk suggestions by local politicians on how to curb 'demand' in a trade that basically assaults common sense.

Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo's pointer was that wives should snitch on their husbands by reporting them to the authorities. He urged, "when washing your husband's clothes, look out for tell-tale signs ... stains, hotel receipts ... inform the authorities."

Can we hear something more intelligent?

The suggestion is highly erosive of the ethos of respect and trust that ideally should exist in conjugal relationships, and will do more harm than good when spouses are encouraged to be "snitches".

Wanita MCA chief Ng Yen Yen's upped the ante with this 'gem' of advice to women: "Put on more lipstick and try not to put on weight..." (so that your husbands will not resort to prostitutes).

This kind of attitude reinforces the stereotype that the worth of wives lies in their appearing physically attractive to the husband all the time. It is damaging to women because it pitches women against the progression of age and the ravages of it.

This kind of attitude denigrates the dignity of women and downplays their intelligence, character and other attributes. It ignores the fundamental fact that even men with attractive wives may resort to commercial sex because of the need for variety or for business entertainment.

Such a statement by a woman leader puts down women more than the upholding of the principle of legalising prostitution to protect sex workers - most of whom are women.

For those who want to know more of this issue, they should read 'The Sex Sector: The Economic and Social Bases of Prostitution in Southeast Asia', published by the International Labor Organisation (ILO), covering Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

A prestigious publishing prize, the 1998 International Nike Award, was awarded to labour market expert Lin Lean Lim of the ILO for researching and authoring this study.

This is an important issue on which the positions of feminist groups worldwide are divided.

I would therefore be obliged if groups like Women's Aid Organisation and All Women's Action Society could clarify their stand on this issue - whether or not in principle, they support the legalisation and regulation of prostitution for protection of female sex workers.

I would also like to know if the Malaysian Aids Council would support such a call to stem the HIV/Aids epidemic.