LETTER | Time to reflect on Malaysia s downgrade in human trafficking report
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LETTER | It is regrettable that Malaysia was downgraded to Tier 3 in the US Trafficking in Persons Report, although this was expected given that the report highlighted serious allegations of inactions of the government to tackle human trafficking syndicates and corruption amongst its enforcement officials.
The government should take this downgrade as a wake up call to do more to combat human trafficking. The rubber industry and palm oil companies were singled out as hotbeds for human trafficking activities but the report alleged that the government turned a blind eye to the allegations, rather prosecuting the employers in the rubber industry under the Worker’s Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act for “inhumane living conditions in migrant workers’ dormitories”. No investigation has so far been initiated in the palm oil industry.