Trafficking report upgrade reflects govt’s efforts — Salleh

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia’s upgrade to Tier 2 of the United States annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report reflects the Government’s efforts led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in battling human trafficking.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said Malaysians, driven by their shared values of care and respect, remained united against human trafficking.

“More importantly and, in addition to international partnerships, Malaysia remains committed and will continue efforts in prevention, prosecuting of traffickers and the protection of victims,” he told Bernama here yesterday.

Salleh was commenting on the Trafficking in Persons Report 2017, an annual report issued by the United States’ State Department’s Office To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

Malaysia was in the Tier 2 watchlist in 2015 and 2016, an upgrade from Tier 3 in 2014.

Tier 2 is accorded to the governments of countries that do not fully meet the Trafficking Victims Protection Act minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.

The Tier 2 watchlist is similar to Tier 2, but with three additional criteria, including the failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts and where the number of victims is significant or increasing. - Bernama