KUALA LUMPUR: Graft watchdog, Transparency International Malaysia (TIM) today told the government more must be done to better address human trafficking and improve the country’s ranking.
In a statement today, TIM president Datuk Akhbar Satar said the government has to increase efforts compared to the previous reporting period, as the efforts taken by the previous government has not been effective which caused the downgrading.
Malaysia has been downgraded to the Tier 2 watchlist in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report for 2018.
The downgrade means that Malaysia has returned to the same position it held in 2015 and 2016.
According to the 2018 TIP report, Malaysia does not fully meet the minimum requirements for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts do so.
In the statement, Akhbar suggested a number of measures that could be carried out by the government to improve the ranking.
“The new Home Minister should look into the human trafficking problem in the country and there must be a strong political will to fight against human trafficking.
“The government must also demonstrate increased efforts by expanding trafficking investigations, prosecutions, and convictions. Investigate smuggling and trafficking-related offenses charge and be transparent in this issue.
“Relook at the new inter-agency law enforcement task force and select among those which possess high integrity assigned and trained on investigative methods,” he proposed.
He also recommended the government strengthen enforcement of the law prohibiting passport retention and conviction of unauthorised retention of passports.
“Other law enforcement agencies should assist Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali, the Director-General of Immigration Department and improve victims’ protection efforts, which remained largely inadequate.
“Stricter requirements are needed to recruit new counselors able to complete required mental health evaluations, risk-averse and paternalistic attitudes towards victims, and lack of victim interest in available work opportunities (which has) resulted in a very low number of victims being granted the right to work or to move freely.
“Corruption is worse than prostitution as it will tarnish the image and the weaken the security of the country, as such no public servants should betray his country by accepting bribe from human traffickers or illegals.”
He added only a well-coordinated effort and approach taken between the relevant agencies are able to bring positive results to improve our current standings.
Countries in Tier 1 are governments which fully meet the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards.
Countries in Tier 2 meanwhile are those that do not fully meet the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to meet those standards.
The Tier 2 Watchlist is similar to Tier 2, but with three additional criterias, including the failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts or where the number of victims is significant or increasing.
Tier 3 are countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so.
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