In an interview with FMT, Karex chief executive Goh Miah Kiat said “A slower economy does not stop people from having sex. Condoms are an important need, like toothpaste. Even when the economy is in decline, people still look for toothpaste. In this day and age, it is a necessity.”

The company was started by his grandfather Goh Huang Chiat and began operations in 1988 with its first factory in Pontian, Johor. It is now the main distributor of condoms in 220 countries.

“The company made huge profits after HIV spread to Asia and Africa. We were given the opportunity to work with various NGOs and the United Nations to distribute condoms to countries with high numbers of HIV sufferers.”

“Karex also recorded profits after China introduced the ‘One family, One child’ policy,” he said, adding almost 50 per cent of Karex condoms were purchased by international agencies to be distributed for free to the poor.

Goh said half the world’s population of 7.46 billion was below the age of 23 and formed the main age group of condom users.

“However, do not misunderstand; we are not trying to promote free sex amongst teenagers. Early prevention of HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) are our main priorities.”

He said a UN report on STI showed that as many as 500 million people around the world had some form of STI and that this figure could increase from time to time.

“Sex is a norm, so there is no need for society to be ashamed or to talk about it or in buying condoms.”

Goh said that Karex manufactures some five billion condoms annually from four factories, in Senai, Pontian, Port Klang and Thailand, with over 2,600 employees. Offices had also been opened in the United States and Britain.

The company recently introduced a durian-flavoured condom, exclusive to Malaysia with only 200,000 packs manufactured till the end of the month.

Karex also has a diverse range of condoms, including multi-coloured and multi-flavoured condoms and lubricants for the European market, as well as a Glow In The Dark series.