The exposé by Malaysiakini special report on Forest City migrant workers is shocking. Such action is totally unacceptable in Malaysia. The government should take the harshest action against the employers who trafficked in and exploited the documented or undocumented migrant workers.
Malaysia has been infamous for human trafficking and is still listed as Tier 2 country in the “Trafficking in Persons Report” by the US Department of State. Although we improved from the lowest Tier 3 to Tier 2 last year amending our laws to provide more protections to trafficked victims, the latest development is feared to affect our ranking again.
I hereby urge the government take necessary actions to prevent the incident in the future. Since it is clear that most of the undocumented migrant workers in this case come into Malaysia via flight from China to Johor Bahru, the Home Ministry should make sure that they carry out proper investigation and enforcement to ensure no person will over-stay his or her visitors visa.
It is unbelievable that so many foreigners can come in and out of the country under our Home Ministry’s radar.
Additionally, I also urge the government to enforce the latest version of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Amendment) Act 2015 to provide greater basic protection to undocumented migrant workers. They should be treated as trafficked victims under this circumstances.
Section 66(A) and 66(B) for example, provide for financial compensation, including wages, to be paid to the trafficked persons both when there is or no conviction.
Hence, it is clear that these undocumented migrant worker can be compensated financially for their predicaments and our government should make sure the Act is not only a mere window dressing by enforcing it in this case.
We must not allow the exploited workers to suffer even more when the government takes legal action against their employers.