By Ann Tan and Winnie Yeoh

A 65-year-old grandfather was among 19 men caught at two gay joints in Penang said to be frequented by doctors and lecturers.

The joints were a massage parlour and a fitness centre located at a shopping complex.

Among those arrested, two were caretakers - aged 30 and 38 - while seven were local customers.

The remaining 10 were said to be sex workers from Thailand, Vietnam, China, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Some of them were said to have been caught with their pants down when police stormed into the premises.

Some of the posters found at the raided gay joints. Photo: The Daily Chilli

During the 10pm operation on Tuesday, police also seized posters, towels and tubes of lubricant.

The "company" is said to be hiring foreign employees, who entered the country with visit permits, in batches.

It is learnt the two shops, which have been closed down for two to three months, started'operations again recently.

Using massage parlour and fitness centre as a front for their operations, regular customers were given a password to enter the place.

Two closed-circuit television cameras were installed in front for surveillance.

Police earlier laid an ambush nearby and arrested a customer before getting him to reveal the password.