KUALA LUMPUR – Activists and human rights groups are blaming private companies and syndicates for being hubs of human trafficking activities.
In a press conference yesterday, Malaysian Muslim Consumers’ Association (PPIM) president Datuk Nadzim Johan alleged the long-time existence of such syndicates.
“Since 1990, these syndicates have been bringing in foreign workers and prioritising profit over the welfare of these workers and the interests of the employers,” Nadzim said, adding that the syndicates operate by using local companies with local shareholders as a camouflage.
“These syndicates have raked in billions in profit and have caused the country to lose out in terms of tax collections.”
The PPIM activist also claimed that deals are conducted between local private companies and foreign syndicates where an amount of RM15,000 to RM20,000 per worker is paid for them to work in Malaysia.
These private companies have developed systems connected to the Home Ministry and the Immigration Department to bring in foreign workers.
“While they (private companies) might appear to be aiding the government in bringing in foreign labour, they actually reap profits worth millions of ringgit from the workers’ countries of origin,” he said.
The damning 2021 Trafficking in Persons report released by the United States on July 2, which downgraded Malaysia to the lowest rung, was also referenced during the press conference.
The report stated that 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.
Nadzim urged the government and relevant ministries to play their part and take action against irresponsible parties whose actions have caused Malaysia to garner international infamy as a human trafficking hub.
Also present at the press conference was Anti-discrimination and Misconduct Organisation (Pertubuhan Anti-diskriminasi dan Salah Laku) chairman Datuk Haji Mohd Fakrunizam who called on the Home Ministry and Human Resources Ministry to strengthen the enforcement of their policies.
“What we are facing now is a form of modern slavery that the government must look into for the sake of all stakeholders involved,” said Fakrunizam, adding that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission should investigate allegations of misconduct leading to the exploitation of foreign labourers.
Fakrunizam also suggested that the government make use of foreign workers who are already in the country by renewing their permits instead of focusing efforts on bringing in more of them. – The Vibes, November 11, 2021
