Pubdate: Sat, 05 Aug 2000 Source: Star (Malaysia) Copyright: 2000 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. Contact: 13 Jalan 13/6, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia Website: http://www.thestar.com.my Author: Sim Leoi Leoi and Susan Tam GROS 'Forced' To Pop Ecstasy Pills KUALA LUMPUR: Nightclub patrons are forcing guest relations officers to take Ecstasy pills in order to be in a "happier mood when providing services''. MCA Public Complaints and Service Bureau head Michael Chong said these pills were supplied by rich customers who liked watching GROs getting high. "These people are sadists. They threaten not to pay for the services of these women if the latter refused to consume these pills. "So many of these GROs are pressured into taking these pills and became addicts,'' he told a press conference here yesterday. In one case, a former GRO from Johor Baru quit her job after she could not deal with the pressure from customers. "Many of her colleagues at the nightclubs are now addicts. "She decided to quit her job after realising that these pills were causing her pain and suffering. Her family had also broken up as a result,'' said Chong. In another case, Madam Lee, 21, became addicted to Ecstasy pills after she was forced by her jobless husband to work as a GRO, for which she was paid around RM600 per night. "The husband wants her to continue consuming these pills in order to entertain her customers and had even threatened to beat her up. "She is now seeking our help in trying to get a divorce from her husband. She could also be in danger as she had exposed the nightclub patrons,'' said Chong, adding that the Lees had a one-year-old son. In a related case, a housewife had left her husband after his addiction to Ecstasy caused him to behave violently towards her and their two children. Chong said Madam Chio, 20, from Ampang claimed that her sub-contractor husband had even attempted to strangle her and the children, aged two and seven months, respectively. "She ran away from home, leaving her two children with the mother-in-law,'' he said, adding that her mother-in-law had sought his help in tracing Chio. "But Chio came to clarify that she had run away because she was afraid of her husband,'' he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake