KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: The proposed New Year's Eve sex party will only bring shame to the country, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman.

She said such events would not attract tourists to the country and would do the tourism industry no favours.

"Malaysia's tourism lure lies in the strength of its multiracial society.

"It is also seen as a family and shopping destination.

"A sex party is against our culture and religion and if it went on, it would damage the country's reputation worldwide," she stressed.

Expressing shock at the newspaper report, the tourism minister urged the relevant authorities to take immediate action to stop the party.

"There are other events organised to usher the new year which are hip, fun and suitable to our culture," she said.

Sex parties, especially for gays, are not new in Malaysia as the authorities had busted several gatherings before.

In November last year, police arrested 37 men at a gay sex party and a year later four other such parties were stopped by the authorities.

More than 70 men were arrested in this year's raids.

-- New Straits Times / Asia News Network