KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia aims to attain Tier 1 status on the United States’ State Department Trafficking In Persons (TIP) report next year, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Home Minister said Malaysia was presently placed in Tier 2 and that the government, through the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Mapo), was working hard on efforts to curb human trafficking and forced labour, to improve its position.
“Our target next year is Tier 1, which means a country that complies with all the indicators (of the TIP report),” he said after attending the Combating Human Trafficking and Forced Labour Convention here yesterday, adding that as of now, Malaysia, has met eight out of 16 indicators.
“We are also seen showing high compliance to rescue programmes (and) this is a combination of work involving the Manpower Department, Human Resources Ministry, Home Ministry, NGOs and employers. So, we are creating awareness,” said Saifuddin.
He said efforts were being made to improve on seven indicators that were seen as under compliance, including providing conducive environments for rescued victims.
“This is a role to be played by the shelter homes. We are providing yearly grants to NGOs (for this effort). I am confident that if we continue this momentum, our target to reach Tier 1 will not be too difficult,” said Saifuddin.
