KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 — The government has refuted the United States’ claim that it is not doing enough to curb human trafficking.
“It is not justifiable to put Malaysia on such a list,” Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said.
The Masjid Tanah MP said that efforts have been taken since the enactment of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007.
“It is unfair to put us on the list, as if we are involved in trafficking our people. We have taken preventive measures because we do not want to be a transit point for this activity,” he told reporters in at the Parliament lobby.
The Unites States state department had yesterday expanded a blacklist of governments it believed were not doing enough to stop human trafficking in its annual “Trafficking in Persons” report.
Malaysia, together with Zimbabwe, Cuba and North Korea, among others, were listed as the worst offenders, putting the countries at risk of losing some US assistance.
When asked whether action taken by the government was sufficient, Abu Seman said the authorities had arrested quite a number of illegal entering the country recently and an inter-ministerial team had been put together to take active steps to control the problem.
“We also cooperate with our neighbours like Australia. Recently, the advisor to the prime minister of Australia came to discuss common issues including those pertaining to trafficking,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tian Chua (PKR-Batu), said that the opposition may table an emergency motion in Parliament to debate the issue.
Malaysia is at the third tier in the list, which means the US could withhold aid that was not humanitarian or trade-related.
“Our application for exchange programmes in culture or education may also be at risk,” he said.
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