Kuala Lumpur  - Chinese women topped the list of foreign prostitutes arrested in Malaysia throughout 2008, followed by Indonesian nationals, a news report said Saturday.

A total of 4,496 Chinese women were detained during anti-vice raids conducted nationwide.

Police also nabbed 1,389 Indonesian women, 1,049 Thai nationals, 1,090 Filipinas and 512 women from Vietnam, all of whom were believed to be working as prostitutes in entertainment outlets and budget hotels, Bakri Zinin, the director of criminal investigations, was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times daily.

Bakri said the police relied heavily on tip-offs from the public in reporting "immoral activities," adding that many of the women entered the country on social visas.

He said a newly-formed anti-trafficking unit has also successfully rescued 39 foreign nationals found to have been forced to work as prostitutes.

"These women, aged between 18 and 25, came here lured by the promise of jobs like shop assistants, but were instead forced into vice by their bogus agents," said Bakri.

He said the victims managed to seek help from sympathetic members of the public, who would then alert police.

Prostitution is illegal in Malaysia. The sentence for those found guilty of soliciting is a fine of up to 2,000 ringgit (540 dollars) and a one-year jail term. Foreigners are deported. (dpa)