Pak Lah Vows Serious Measures To Curb Human Trafficking

It looks like the inclusion of Malaysia on a US blacklist of countries engaged in smuggling people has spurred our moribund authorities to at least do something in the face of this disgraceful 'achievement'.

Malaysia has been placed on Washington's "Tier 3" list of worst offenders, joining Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea and Sudan! (What a slap on the face for our government, which must take total responsibility for this debacle. Perhaps our leaders have been too focussed on Rela's khalwat raids, while turning a blind eye to a lot of other much more serious infringements. Also there is no reliable information on the direct/indirect involvement of any of our pemimpin in human trafficking. Going by past history that may very well be one factor which influenced the laissez-faire attitude in the first place.)

In a too little too late measure, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi promised 'severe' punishment for human traffickers, saying that "we are against human trafficking. Certainly, human trafficking is a crime and that has to be stopped."

According to Pak Lah, a landmark anti-trafficking bill is pending in parliament, which would introduce a 20-year jail sentence for offenders as well as stiff fines.
The new bill would grant greater powers to the police, immigration and other authorities to pursue, prosecute and convict human traffickers, while better protecting victims. "The penalty, or the punishment will be severe. We do whatever we can, but because it is not enough ... that is why we decided that the bill has become necessary," he said.

Although Malaysia is a key US trading partner, the lackadaisical administration was found wanting and our country was added to the blacklist of the State Department's annual "Trafficking in Persons Report." It failed to show "satisfactory progress" in areas such as punishing acts of trafficking, providing adequate shelters and social services to victims, and protecting migrant workers from involuntary servitude, the report said.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar Wednesday acknowledged that under existing law in Malaysia, there is no distinction made between trafficked persons and illegal immigrants. However, he criticised Malaysia's inclusion on the list and refuted claims it was not doing enough to tackle the problem.

I wonder what Information Czar, Zainuddin Maidin has to say about this whole shameful episode. I suppose he will blame the US State Department, the media and especially the blogs for running down the country resulting in this unfair inclusion into the blacklist. In his view, our government is the most efficient on Earth and can do no wrong.

Obviously the government has no other choice but to deny that nothing meaningful has been done thus far. In a way I suppose it's a good thing that this blacklist surfaced. Now at least we can see some genuine effort being put in by the authorities and real changes taking place. Hopefully.
(Source - Channel Newsasia)
Image - Source