PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has carried out a number of initiatives to curb human trafficking, even though its efforts were not reflected in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report which ranked the country on the lowest tier.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said this was because the report was based on subjective assessment and perception, and influenced by the actions of certain employers who had exploited their workers.
“The fact is, we have come up with a slew of initiatives to actively stop human trafficking and abuse of workers,” he said after attending the Immigration Day celebration here on Thursday (July 21).
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Hamzah listed the amendment to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom), which brings stiffer penalties to bear on offenders, as one of the efforts undertaken by the government.
Through the implementation of the National Action Plan on Anti-Trafficking in Persons, the government remains committed to eliminating human trafficking, he added.
Hamzah said he had met US Ambassador to Malaysia Brian D Mcfeeters and explained Malaysia’s position.
Malaysia remains committed to ensure that human trafficking does not occur, he said, adding that a comprehensive masterplan for border control is in the pipeline.
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“This will include the use of the latest technology to control entry and exit along our borders and the purchase of more assets to improve border control,” he said.
In the July 2022 report released by the US State Department, Malaysia is listed under Tier Three for “not fully meeting the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking and not making significant efforts to do so.”
In the same tier as Malaysia are 10 other countries, which include China and Myanmar.
The report said that even considering the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity, Malaysia remains on Tier Three.
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It acknowledged that despite the lack of significant efforts, the government had taken some steps to address trafficking.
The report added that the government did increase law enforcement efforts with the Atipsom Act 2007, which criminalises labour trafficking and sex trafficking, being amended for the third time in December.
The amendments increased the penalties for some offences and expanded the definition of trafficking.
