MALAYSIA, AUSTALIA TO ENHANCE COOPERATION IN COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING

PUTRAJAYA, July 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Monday said that stopping human
trafficking and people smuggling is on the nation's main agenda.

Foreign Minister Anifah Aman at a joint press conference with his
Australian counterpart Stephen Smith at Wisma Putra here, said Malaysia would
step up efforts to check the crime.

He said Malaysia was not the only country affected by the problem as there
were the "push and pull" factors.

"We are concerned about human trafficking and people smuggling but it is
difficult to deal with the problem as some people do have genuine intention when
they come here; to further their studies, do business or just to visit this
country.

"We can't deny them entry but that's the problem -- some abuse the system,"
he said.

In combating the crime, he said, Malaysia sought assistance from
neighbouring countries in watching over its coastal line.

"Malaysia has a very long coastal line and that is where the problem
occurs," he said.

On the same issue, Smith said the Australian government was happy with the
close cooperation built with Malaysia in tackling the problem.

Australia, he said, had been affected by the large number of immigrants
flowing into the country due to the wars and economic hardship in their
motherland.

"We are happy with the joint commitment to enhance not only the policy
aspects but operationally. We are indeed working very closely, not only
through bilateral arrangements but also the Bali Process on people smuggling,
human trafficking and people movement issues," he said.

The Bali Process, co-chaired by the governments of Indonesia and Australia,
brings participants together to work on practical measures to help combat people
smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crimes in the
Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Initiated at the Regional Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling,
Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime" in Bali in February
2002, the Bali Process follow-up is a collaborative effort participated by
over 50 countries and numerous international agencies.
-- BERNAMA