Aiming for better position

M’sia hopes for upgraded ranking on US human trafficking report

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, which was relegated to the lowest ranking in the US Trafficking in Persons Report last year, is hoping to do better when the latest report is issued next week.

“We have certainly been trying our best to fulfil our obligations under the United Nations,” Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said.

He said Malaysia was hoping for a favourable decision to come soon.

In the 2014 report, Malaysia dropped to Tier 3, which is the lowest ranking. This places it on the same level as Thailand, Venezuela, North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe.

Dr Wan Junaidi said the country had made many improvements relating to human trafficking issues.

“This includes the amendment to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Immigrants, which has been passed by Dewan Negara.

“The amendments are to fulfil some of the requirements and enable non-governmental organisations to provide shelter houses and for the court to give compensation and backpay to victims,” he said yesterday.

Reuters, quoting US sources, said in a report on Wednesday that the United States was expected to upgrade Malaysia on the list in “a move that could smooth the way for an ambitious US-led free-trade deal” with Malaysia.

Dr Wan Junaidi said that if an upgrade was announced, it would be because Malaysia deserved it.

“Since the beginning of 2014, we have made tremendous efforts to meet the obligations to improve ourselves,” he said.

“High-level meetings have been convened four times to discuss ways and means to improve our performance in prevention, detection and prosecution of offenders.”

He said discussions were held on the legal framework on Malaysia’s obligations in trafficking matters.

Amnesty International, however, said the possible upgrading indicated the United States’ willingness to sidestep one of the world’s worst human rights crises.

Its executive director Shamini Darsini said Malaysia lacked strong laws and policies to protect vulnerable people on the move and its refusal to address human trafficking issues over the years did not warrant the upgrade.