KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia is still under observation by the US Department of State with regard to human trafficking activities, the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah was told yesterday.
Intelligence officer from the Bukit Aman Human Trafficking Unit, ASP Jimrey Hillary said Malaysia had been put in Tier 2 (Watchlist), one of the lowest classification, since 2008.
“The US Department of State classifies countries based on four tiers with Tier 1 as the best, Tier 2, Tier 2 (Watchlist) and Tier 3.
“In 2009, Malaysia was put in Tier 3. Countries classified under Tier 3 could face economic sanctions,” he said.
According to Jimrey, the US viewed Malaysia as a transit country for sexual workers from Indonesia, China, Philippines, Sri Lanka, India and Vietnam.
He said the majority of human trafficking cases entered the country via proper channels, but some had a tendency to overstay and eventually become illegal immigrants.
Jimrey said in Sabah, there had been 52 cases since 2008 involving 198 trafficked persons and 65 people arrested.
Meanwhile, Sabah Customs assistant director (Enforcement Division) Mohd Fadzli Abdullah said the department does not have the capacity to verify identity cards (IC) of smugglers arrested in various operations.
“The department loses millions of ringgit a year in unpayable tax.
“Although the majority of the smugglers are Filipino nationals, there are Malaysian citizens who have produced ICs, but talked with a Filipino accent,” he said.
According to Mohd Fadzli, the most smuggled item was cigarettes of various brands.
The founder of Madrasah Al-Hikmah here, said political antagonism left children of foreign workers, especially from the Philippines, trapped in their poor ways as they had no access to education.
Yahya Yaacob said that was why he had set up the three-classroom school eight years ago to provide basic education and taught by a staff of five teachers.
He said the school is funded by donations and the Kota Kinabalu City Hall had been generous enough to allow the school to operate on its piece of land.
He told the inquiry that Islamic education and conversational English were the main subjects, which prepare the students when seeking employment.
The inquiry continues today. — Bernama