Human trafficking talk just because Pelosi’s in town: Guan Eng pans Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR – Lim Guan Eng (Bagan-PH) questioned the government’s commitment, especially Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s (Larut-PN) efforts to address the issue of human trafficking, after Malaysia remained at Tier 3 of the US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report for 2022.

Speaking at the Dewan Rakyat today, Lim responded to Hamzah’s earlier lengthy explanation on government efforts to address human trafficking and forced labour.

Lim said he was puzzled by Hamzah’s “sudden” explanation as it coincides with United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s official visit to Malaysia today.

“I wanted to know whether it is coincidental that the honourable minister felt it is important to address or answer on this issue just because of the report produced by the US, and that Pelosi is here on an official visit.

“So if Pelosi did not pay us a visit, would you have not given us an explanation?” asked Lim.

Pelosi arrived here earlier today as part of her Asia tour.

She is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun during her visit.

On July 25, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun rejected a motion by Steven Sim Chee Keong (Bukit Mertajam-PH) to allow the Dewan Rakyat to debate the US TIP 2022 report.

In the US TIP 2022 report, it says Malaysia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so even considering the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity.

It also stated that Malaysia failed to prosecute government officials allegedly involved in human trafficking or forced labour.

In his explanation, Hamzah explained that the US report is mainly “subjective” and takes into account many perceptions including from non-governmental organisations.

Hamzah then listed various amendments to the law including the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act, to bring stiffer penalties to bear on offenders.

Other amendments include the Employment Act, to include a wider definition of forced labour.

Hamzah also denied certain facts within the report, which states the country does not have sufficient safe homes for refugees. He said that the government supports eight homes while two others are run by non-governmental organisations.

Later in the debate, Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa (Parit Buntar-PH) said the issue of human trafficking and forced labour is largely caused by systemic corruption within the government.

“Let us be fair to ourselves and say we have corrupt officials. We keep coming back here (Dewan Rakyat) to discuss but the problem is we fail to prosecute the corrupt and those who are involved in human trafficking,” he said. – The Vibes, August 2, 2022