Malaysia moves up to Tier 2 Watch List in annual US human trafficking report

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has moved out of the lowest tier in the US State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2023.

Released on Thursday (June 15) night, the TIP report shows that Malaysia is now back on the Tier 2-Watch List category, where it had been placed from 2018 to 2020.

Earlier, it was reported that the Home Ministry would meet with the US ambassador on Thursday to address Malaysia’s ranking in the TIP report.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail outlined four measures in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (June 14) that had been taken by Malaysia in order to improve its TIP ranking.

In February, Saifuddin said moving out of Tier 3 — the lowest — was important for Malaysia as the country was at risk of possible sanctions being imposed on local products.

Malaysia was in Tier 2 of the US TIP Report 2017, Tier 2-Watch List from 2018 to 2020, and Tier 3 in 2021 and 2022.

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