Zahid greets Susan Coppedge during her visit.
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is prepared to collaborate with the United States in the field of capacity building which touches on the aspects of prosecution and convictions, including in identifying individuals with potential to become victims of labour exploitation and forced labour.
The matter was conveyed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to US Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Susan Coppedge, during their meeting at Perdana Putra here today.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said he had also explained the efforts undertaken by Malaysia in combating human trafficking without neglecting the victims’ wellbeing, in line with international practice.
“The Malaysian government’s initiatives must get full support from various quarters, including the non-governmental organisations (NGO).
“Amendments made to domestic laws on this crime had also opened the door for participation and involvement of NGO, especially in the aspect of protection for the victims,” he said in a statement.
Coppedge, who is also senior advisor to the U.S Secretary of States, is in a two-day visit to Malaysia following the Trafficking in Persons report (TIP) 2016 issued by the U.S State Department’s Office in Washington on June 30.
The U.S government’s assessment on 188 countries in terms of prevention, prosecution and protection, saw that Malaysia remained at Tier 2 Watchlist on human trafficking this year.
Ahmad Zahid said efforts taken by Malaysia were not just based on the U.S government’s recommendation, but also done after taking into consideration Malaysia’s obligations as ASEAN member country following the acceptance of the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, and the Regional Plan of Action on the crime.
He said the two instruments had been approved by ASEAN countries in Kuala Lumpur last November.
Meanwhile, Coppedge will also meet with senior officials of relevant ministries and agencies and attend an interaction session with members of the members of the High Level Committee on Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (MAPO) chaired by Ahmad Zahid.
The interaction session was to discuss the recommendations given by the U.S State Department for Malaysia to improve the country’s ranking in next year’s report. – Bernama