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Malaysian Government Presents First Bill Against Human Trafficking | |
The Malaysian government has presented its first anti-human trafficking bill to provide the legislation means to fight the trafficking in human beings, particularly women and children, local press reported Wednesday. The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill 2007, which was tabled in parliament for first reading Tuesday, offers protection for women and children and makes it easier for the police, immigration and other authorities to pursue, prosecute and convict human traffickers. "Currently, there is no legislation which tackles human trafficking. This law will address the concerns raised about human trafficking and (provide) arm enforcement agencies with the tools to fight it," Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times. Once the bill is passed in the current parliament sitting, the government could ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, which supplements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Nazri told reporters Tuesday in the parliament lobby. Currently, the Malaysian government has ratified the Convention but is unable to implement the Protocol as there was no legislation to cater to it in the country. Under the anti-human trafficking bill, any person who traffics for the purpose of exploitation shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment not exceeding 15 years, and be liable to a fine upon conviction. Those caught using threats, force, coercion, fraud or deception will be punished by a jail term of not less than three years but not more than 20 years and a fine. Those who provide financial services or facilities to traffickers will also face punishment, including imprisonment of up to ten years, according to the bill on the table. The new bill not only allows the authorities to clamp down on anyone involved in human trafficking but also cares for victims and informants. The victim or trafficked person will not be prosecuted for illegal entry, or charged for entering the country with fraudulent documents provided by the trafficker. Medical care will be extended to victims and they can be moved from one safe house to another for additional protection. At present, victims are sent to Immigration detention centers and not treated as victims of trafficking. To address concerns of individuals who offer tip-offs to police, the bill says informants will be protected by police and remain anonymous to ensure their safety. Local media reports said the government's move comes in the wake of allegations that Malaysia is becoming a transit point for human trafficking. Police statistics show that 371 foreign women were rescued between 2004 and 2006 in the country. |
