(Kota
Kinabalu) – “Malaysia remains under observation by the U.S Department of State
with regard to human trafficking activities, the Royal Commission on Inquiry
(RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah was told today.” Malaysia had been put on
the “Tier 2 (Watchlist)” - which is considered to be one of the lowest
classifications granted by the U.S Trafficking in Persons Report – since 2008. According
to an intelligence officer from the Bukit Aman Human Trafficking unit, ASP
Jimrey Anak Hillary, the U.S views Malaysia as a transit country for sexual
workers from Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India and Vietnam.
According to Jimrey there have been 52 cases since 2008 in Sabah involving 198 trafficked
persons. The victims are from Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia and a small
number of locals. There have also been 65 arrests and these include Malaysians,
Filipinos, Indonesians and Singapore nationals.
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