Malaysia and Indonesia will take the fight against human trafficking straight to the transnational criminal organisations running their rackets across multiple borders through a memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Hermono, who goes by one name, said the planned MOU between the two nations is being designed to combat various transnational crimes including all types of human trafficking which is a serious issue affecting both countries.
“In my view, we can be more successful if we have a technical arrangement in combating human trafficking.
“The MOU will cover all crimes listed as transnational crimes by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the initiative is being led by the Indonesian National Police.
“We have concluded almost 80 percent of the negotiations and the crimes addressed include drug trafficking, human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, money laundering, trafficking firearms, counterfeit goods, wildlife and some aspects of cybercrime,” he told Malaysiakini.
Hermono (above) explained that both countries viewed human trafficking as a cross-border criminal activity that required cooperation between them and it would also cover preventive measures, public awareness campaigns and enforcement.
Hermono was responding to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s assurances to Malaysians on Sept 29 that the government will do its best in resolving the issue of Malaysians trafficked into Asean countries.
Calling on the Malaysian government to address victims being trafficked and smuggled into the country with equal seriousness as it was addressing Malaysians being trafficked abroad, Hermono said: “No single country can do it alone.”
Indonesia will take over the chair of Asean next year and while at the helm of G20 this year, its message for a united economic recovery to ensure a healthy rebound from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic downturn will be echoed in its message to Asean next year.
The Asean Migration Outlook 2022 stated that the pandemic had increased the number of people at risk of being trafficked in the region due to increased poverty rate, decreased economic opportunities and limited labour protection.
Early last month, the Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation secretary-general Hishamuddin Hashim, together with support groups and family members of victims, urged the Foreign Ministry to moot an “extraordinary” action from Asean in addressing job scams.
Trafficking in Asean and beyond
In a memorandum to the minister, the group demanded heads of governments from countries like Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia intervene immediately.
Meanwhile, current Asia chair Cambodia, which is a landing place for trafficked victims including Malaysians, reached out to China last month for support in its nationwide crackdown on illegal gambling and human trafficking.
According to a Khmer Times report, the country’s interior minister, Sar Kheng, said China could provide more support by investigating and prosecuting ringleaders involved in transnational crimes, human trafficking, sex trafficking and illegal employment.
In August, alarmed by reports of job scams and concerned over human traffickers’ attempt to lure Taiwanese to Cambodia through the promise of high-paying jobs, one of Taiwan’s leading online job banks removed more than 100 overseas job listings.
A 23-year-old Malaysian, Goi Zhen Feng, from Ipoh was a trafficking victim of an online dating scam. He was believed to have been abused and succumbed to his injuries on May 11 at a hospital in Thailand.
His case brought the spotlight on the dangers experienced by Malaysians allegedly trafficked into Myanmar through Thailand.
Police secretary Noorsiah Saaduddin announced yesterday that 110 Malaysians who fell prey to similar job scams abroad had been rescued this year but 174 were still stranded.
She said the police will continue to work with Interpol and Aseanapol (Asean police) to address the problem of fraudulent overseas job offers to Malaysians, and are also involved in a special committee led by the Foreign Ministry to tackle the problem.
Rescue Indonesians trafficked into Malaysia
“Like Malaysia, the Indonesian government is also serious about rescuing its people victimised by traffickers not only in Cambodia but all over the world.
“Therefore, we hope the Malaysian authorities can take immediate action to save trafficked Indonesian victims in Malaysia,” Hermono said.
The Indonesian government believes a significant number of Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia are victims of human trafficking, he added.
“We are still receiving cases with elements of trafficking faced by our domestic workers such as illegal employment (undocumented), years of unpaid salary, withholding of their travel documents, restriction on communications, especially with their families, physical abuse and excessive workload.
“The fact that Malaysia has been ranked the lowest standing in the Trafficking in Persons report issued by the US State Department for two consecutive years is a strong indication that trafficking is a problem in the country,” Hermono said. - Mkini
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