The residents do not want it, but Puchong could soon outstrip Chow Kit for the dubious distinction of being the most infamous red light district in the country.
Residents are furious the authorities have allowed the rapidly growing township to degenerate into a bustling haven for prostitution.
An official of the Subang Jaya Municipal Council, under which Puchong falls, confirmed vice activities have increased.
In recent weeks, the council closed down three vice dens, and it is just the tip of the problem.
"Apparently, prostitutes have moved from the city to Puchong. Prostitution used to be quite rampant in Subang Jaya, but now it seems Puchong has become the hotspot."
In the wake of the hookers have come other vices.
The official said the council was trying to check the vice activity by limiting permits for massage parlours, which usually turned into prostitution dens. To date, 40 permits for traditional massage outlets have been approved.
Councillor Gary Chong, dismayed that Puchong has recently been dubbed a "dirty" area, called for more drastic action against offenders.
"It is getting more serious. There have been a lot of illegal hotels that have been raided and closed down in recent months."
He said such illegal premises were mushrooming fast, citing Bandar Puteri as one of the places when he has found illegal massage parlours operating.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok also wants sterner action taken.
She highlighted a case of two Chinese nationals who claimed they were forced to become prostitutes but escaped last Sunday after more than a week of being locked up and starved in a house in Taman Mutiara, Puchong.
"These girls, aged 21 and 19, had been deceived into thinking there were legal job opportunities here," said Kok, adding that the pair flew home to China at 4.50pm yesterday.
They had lodged a police report with the help of a local resident who spotted them wandering about after they escaped from their "prison".
Selangor police chief DCP Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar declined comment on the vice problems in Puchong.
