Police Endus Allegations Of Human Trafficking Involve Former Deputy Minister Of Malaysia

Illustration of human trafficking aka criminal acts of trafficking in person (TPPO). (Lamuk_lamuk-Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The Malaysian Police have sniffed out allegations that the former deputy minister in the Jiran State government is involved in a human trafficking syndicate operating in Myanmar.

Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed the alleged involvement of the deputy minister.

"The police have opened an investigation, and I strongly believe in their professionalism in dealing with this problem," he said at the Malaysian Redang Island community hall on Saturday, August 31, quoted by Bernama.

Saifuddin was reluctant to speculate further regarding this case. However, his findings reveal that cases of human trafficking have recently spread in the ASEAN region.

"However, I would like to share insights from the ASEAN Ministerial Level Meeting on Transnational Crime recently in Laos, which notes that human trafficking is increasing in all participating countries," he said.

Saifuddin added that almost all ASEAN countries have imposed laws to combat human trafficking, including Malaysia's Law on Human Anti-Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling (ATIPSOM) in 2007.

The police will step up efforts to prevent public involvement in these activities. If the involvement is confirmed, the investigation will continue according to the law," he added.

Previously, the Malaysian International Humanitarian Organization (MHO) submitted a report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Wednesday last week. MHO asked the police to conduct an investigation into a Malaysian politician and her husband allegedly linked to a human trafficking syndicate in Myanmar.