Malaysia's former health minister accused his political "enemies" of orchestrating the release of a video showing him having sex with a woman in a hotel room.

The scandal engulfing Chua Soi Lek, 61, who resigned last Wednesday, is the latest in a series of problems facing Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's government ahead of elections which he is expected to call this year.

State news agency Bernama reported that Chua — the most senior minister to leave the government so far — said the media's role in highlighting his work had led certain groups to target him, but he did not name any specific organisations.

"The press helped to kill me, to be honest," Chua, who is married with three children, told an impromptu press conference after clearing out his office.

Chua was also vice president of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a key part of Abdullah's coalition government, before the scandal over the widely circulated tape sparked his resignation.

"The press will always say Dr. Chua is one who may be mounting a challenge against the (MCA) deputy president, against the (MCA) president," he said.

"Who my enemies are, I really don't know." Chua has admitted that it was him indulging in various sex acts in the video, which has been splashed on the front pages of Malaysian newspapers since the DVD started circulating last week in the minister's home sate of Johor.

The woman in the video has fled to China to take get away from the media glare, said Malaysian newspaper reports.

Johor police have identified the woman, who is said to be in her 30s and owns two clothing stores, one in a supermarket in Batu Pahat. Attempting to control the fallout from the scandal, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak downplayed the impact of Chua's resignation. "I do not think that the matter will provide political mileage (for the opposition)," he said.

Sex scandals among politicians are not uncommon in Malaysia, with several members of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) having been forced to resign in recent years.

Chua said he did not know who was behind the taping and DVDs and the police were having “great difficulties” with regards to the video. He said he was told the video was made between six and eight months ago.

Chua added that he was proud that in the three and a half years as Health Minister, he had visited more than 100 hospitals and over 50 health facilities. He said he has no plans to enter the private sector, but would instead retire.

Saying that he had already “stripped himself naked to all Malaysians”, Chua said of his move to resign: “What more do they want? They cannot possibly ask for my head because the Malaysian political struggle is not do-or-die as in some countries.”

Dr Chua said he was working out a plan on how to thank all party members.

"I take it in my stride. That is part of life. I will move on to the next phase. There is life after politics after all,” he said.