‘400,000 AT RISK OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING’

Transnational crime syndicates may exploit Rohingya refugees, says Anifah

MALAYSIA fears that the 400,000 Rohingya seeking refuge in Bangladesh could become victims of human trafficking. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said transnational crime syndicates were likely to exploit the humanitarian crisis for their benefit.

“Given the unspeakable developments in Rakhine State, Malaysia is concerned that more than 400,000 Rohingya seeking refuge in Bangladesh could become victims of human trafficking.

“Transnational crime syndicates will harvest human miseries on the sordid situation.

“Therefore, Malaysia strongly urges Myanmar to heed the repeated calls by the international community to end the violence against the Rohingya.”

Anifah said this at a highlevel meeting of the United Nations general assembly on the world body’s global plan of action to combat trafficking in persons at the world body in New York, United States, yesterday.

In his address, he said Malaysia joined the international community in addressing the scourge of human trafficking, condemned these heinous crimes and accorded the highest priority in combating trafficking in persons.

Malaysia was not only a transit and destination country for the victims of trafficking in persons but its citizens too had become targets, he added.

“It is because of these reasons that Malaysia has instituted adequate national laws, particularly the Penal Code and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and AntiSmuggling of Migrants Act 2007.

“As a consequence, convictions have increased substantially. Malaysia has also established the inter-ministerial Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and AntiSmuggling of Migrants in 2007, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi).

“Malaysia’s efforts are being guided by its National Action Plan on Anti-Trafficking in Persons (2016-2020), which is consistent with the 2010 Global Plan of Action.” Anifah said based on records that Malaysia had, the majority of human trafficking victims were from neighbouring countries.

He said, in this regard, Malaysia placed high premium on the centrality of bilateral and regional cooperation in combating this crime.

This could be seen, he said, in Malaysia ratifying the Convention against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP) on Sept 7.

Malaysia is also an active member of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, a regional mechanism and arrangement to combat the scourge, he added.

“Malaysia is determined, based on the measures that have been in place, to prosecute the perpetrators and provide protection to the victims. We believe in a comprehensive approach with greater emphasis on prevention, particularly addressing the root causes in the source countries.”

“The solution to the complex issue of trafficking in persons requires collective efforts, by state and nonstate actors.

“In this regard, my delegation is of the view that the measures outlined in the Political Declaration serve as an excellent basis in steering the way forward. “Malaysia pledges our unwavering commitment to act decisively in our common quest to rid urgently the scourge of trafficking in persons. For the sake of humanity, we have no choice but to prevail.”

Given the unspeakable developments in Rakhine State, Malaysia is concerned that more than 400,000 Rohingya currently seeking refuge in Bangladesh could become victims of human trafficking.