MALAYSIA, AUSTRALIA WORK TOGETHER TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING

MELAKA (Malaysia), July 22 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry and the Australian government are to sign an agreement soon on the relocation of migrants, Deputy Home Minister Abu Seman Yusop said Thursday.

He said the agreement was aimed at preventing and eradicating cross-border crime in human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, which were regarded as serious.

"In this context, Australia will send 800 people to Malaysia while Malaysia will send to Australia 4,000 refugees recognised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees," he told reporters after opening a South Zone 1Malaysia Loyal Mind Seminar at Air Keroh, here.

He said the Home Ministry would investigate and identify the status of the 800 people who would be accepted into the country to determine if they were victims of human trafficking or illegal immigrants.

If they were victims of human trafficking they would be given protection as had been gazetted, he said.

He said that if they were identified as illegal immigrants they would be detained and deported to their countries of origin or referred to their respective diplomatic representatives.

Meanwhile, Abu Seman said a total 510 suspects were detained by enforcement agencies as of June this year under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.

"Of the 510 suspects, 355 involved human trafficking cases," he said.

He said a total of 2,289 victims had been given temporary shelter while 844 were identified as genuine victims and were given protection as gazetted.

He also said that 339 cases were taken to court as of May 2011.
-- BERNAMA