Indonesia's manpower minister has asked the Malaysian government to raid hotels and brothels that shelter Indonesian women forced into prostitution, a report said today.

Jacob Nuwa Wea, quoted by the state Antara news agency, said many Indonesian women have fallen victim to trafficking and organized syndicates in Malaysia where they have become "sexual slaves" serving guests at hotels and brothels.

During his visit to Malaysia last month, Nuwa Wea met with dozens of syndicate victims in a temporary shelter run by the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

He warned the Malaysian government to take appropriate measures against those involved in the syndicates and to close down hotels where underaged Indonesian women are forced to engage in prostitution.

Nuwa Wea also called on the Indonesian immigration office to be more selective in issuing passports to women who go to Malaysia to work.

"It is true that getting a passport is the right of every citizen but immigration officials should also have enough sense to ask probing questions when a passport is sought by an underaged female," the minister said.