I refer to the Malaysiakini report Malaysia blacklisted for human trafficking .

I am not the least surprised that the US State Department’s annual 'Trafficking in Persons Report 2009', which examined efforts in more than 173 countries to combat trafficking for forced labor, prostitution, military service and other purposes, has Malaysia sharing the blacklist with 16 other countries.

Among the 17 countries on the blacklist are Burma, Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea, Sudan and Saudi Arabia.

That indeed Malaysia is being cited as a destination and, to a lesser extent, a source and transit country for women and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial and sexual exploitation is simply damming.

But more importantly, will our inclusion with other rogue nations like Chad, Eritrea, Niger, Mauritania, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe now make us a pariah among developing nations?

Will the blacklisting and now possible sanctions, including the withholding by US of non- humanitarian, non-trade related foreign aid and other funding‘be a carrot’ to initiate widespread, critical and clinical changes?

I personally doubt it based on my knowledge, involvement and experience in this matter. I will not be wrong to say that today, corruption is so entrenched and widespread in the ‘foreign workers division’ - the prized ‘cash cow’ of the ministry of home affairs.

It is here that corrupt officials, their subordinates, politicians, runners, proxies and owners of industries in the construction, plantation and food and service sectors work ‘hand in glove’ in a carefully mastered art of corruption and kick-backs.

One can conclude it would be run like a ‘Mafia-styled operation’; very closely-knit group where officers who are seen as a threat in exposure of the corrupt are removed under various guises.

This situation is today made worse after the selection and licensing of over 280 labour outsourcing companies and the reopening of the ‘Bangladeshi worker sector’.

I first raised this matter several years ago after corrupt activities derailed the legitimate documentation of workers - an issue that despite receiving widespread coverage over the electronic and print media though nothing eventually happened.

This was the ordeal I experienced despite my private discussions with the then home minister and officials. I was told that the man I had accused then was ‘the mastermind’ and a ‘high-ranking untouchable!’

The twist was that instead of him, I was ‘blacklisted’ and ‘my rice bowl’ broken despite having a strong endorsement from the then deputy prime minister and home minister. That was how powerful this high-ranking ‘untouchable’ or ‘little Napoleon’ was.

I also received many death threats. To put it sarcastically, the identities of the participants or ‘players’ are no secret.

So will the home ministry want to pursue them, leading to the sacking or removal of tainted officials and more importantly, help them regain the respect and gratefulness of all honourable and decent Malaysians?

I have very high respect for the present home minister, Hishammuddin Hussein Onn and I sincerely pray that he will be willing to meet individuals and others with ‘price sensitive’ information on these happenings to address the issues accordingly.

In view of this US State Department report, this is not the time for high-powered denials or rebuttals but for a massive cleanup that will result in the removal of these corrupt who smear the image of the home ministry and the nation.