KUALA LUMPUR: Three organised human trafficking syndicates were crippled and 55 victims of forced labour, sexual exploitation and job scam rackets were rescued in 2025, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the Home Ministry is stepping up efforts to combat human trafficking through tighter controls at the country’s entry points, with coordinated operations by the police, Immigration Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Border Control and Protection Agency.
“These agencies have intensified detection and enforcement, from initial checks at airports and ports to monitoring our waters and land borders,” he said in a parliamentary written reply in the Dewan Rakyat.
Saifuddin said a total of 145 human trafficking cases were investigated last year, involving 274 arrests and 477 rescued victims.
Another key milestone, he added, was resolving the Wang Kelian mass graves case, with five individuals sentenced to five years’ jail.
On errant officers, he said the government would not tolerate any enforcement personnel found to be negligent or colluding with syndicates.
“Firm action without compromise will be taken through thorough criminal investigations and appropriate disciplinary measures,” he said.
He was responding to Aminolhuda Hassan (PH–Sri Gading), who asked about the ministry’s achievements in crippling human trafficking syndicates, particularly at the country’s entry points, and action taken against officers involved or negligent in allowing such syndicates to operate.
