Malaysia back on Tier 2 of US’ Trafficking in Persons report

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia has been upgraded to Tier 2 in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report for 2023.

The report, released last night, finds that Malaysia is making “significant efforts to eliminate human trafficking”, although it is still not meeting minimum standards.

It marks an improvement from Tier 3, where Malaysia has been placed for two years since 2021. Prior to that, the country was in Tier 2 from 2018 to 2020.

Tier 1 is the highest rank and indicates that a country fully meets the minimum standards outlined in the United States Trafficking Victims Protection Act 2000.

Placement on Tier 3 previously was due to a lack of effort in curbing human trafficking and migrant smuggling, as seen from a drop in investigations and prosecutions.

Among the parameters for being placed in Tier 2 is a decrease in evidence of complicity in trafficking by government officials.

Accordingly, the TIP report said Malaysia’s achievements that earned it an upgrade to Tier 2 included initiating more investigations, prosecutions, and convictions, as well as prosecuting officials who were complicit.

Other strides Malaysia made were in the areas of identifying victims, increasing awareness of trafficking in palm oil plantations, more training, and legal amendments that strengthen anti-human trafficking measures.

However, the TIP report also singled out the palm oil sector and the glove-making industry in Malaysia, noting that Malaysia did not sufficiently prosecute traffickers in these sectors.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution met US ambassador to Malaysia Brian McFeeters yesterday on the TIP report and is expected to highlight Malaysia’s upgrade to Tier 2 at a press conference this afternoon. – The Vibes, June 16, 2023