A migrant workers activist based in Penang says Malaysia deserves to be downgraded to Tier 3, the lowest level, in the recently published human trafficking report of the State Department of the United States.

The chairperson of the Episcopal Commission for Migrants and Itinerants in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, Sudhagaran Stanley, said it was because migrant workers continued to be "cheated, abused and live in deplorable conditions" in Malaysia.

Sudhagaran ( left ) said NGOs have tried very hard in the past to invite Malaysian government officers for meetings, for strategic planning and even feedback sessions, but most of them never came for the sessions.

He said it was also very difficult to secure a meeting with government ministers on these issues.

"It seems like the Malaysian government does not want to discuss this issue or allow others to influence its decisions," said Sudhagaran, who is a co-founder of the LifeBridge Learning Centre, a school for refugee children in Penang, and sits on its board of directors.

"The famous answer always given by government officers, whenever we bring up an issue or suggestion is ‘national security’," Sudhagaran added when contacted.

He was referring to the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report 2014, released in Washington on June 20, which downgraded Malaysia to Tier 3 from its previous standing on the Tier 2 Watch List.

Wisma Putra is disappointed with the report, saying Malaysia is serious and committed to addressing human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants.

Sudhagaran said the government has to change it mindset and approach towards the issue.

"We are falling back into the times of slavery and allowing so many humans to be treated in such a way," he said.

"These humans are contributing so much to our country. How could we treat them in such a way?" he asked.

'Revamp Anti-Trafficking Unit'

He urged the government to revamp its Anti-Trafficking Unit and give more enforcement powers to its officers, adding that the unit is "seen as a puppet" that has failed to bring changes since it was formed.

"What is the point of organising seminars here and there when the situation on the ground remains the same?" Sudhagaran asked.

He also called on the Malaysian authorities to launch nationwide operations to catch all the agents and government officers were involved in the cheating of migrant workers during the 6P legalisation programme.  

"The government should also take responsibility and pay back the migrant workers who have not been legalised but cheated of their money," he said.

"Hundreds of thousands of workers were cheated in an amount totalling millions of ringgit by these agents and government officers," he added.

Sudhagaran also said the police department should also be trained to take reports of human trafficking seriously.

Many cases referred to the police by NGOs have not been classified as human trafficking, he added, because “the police seem to take these cases lightly”.

Malaysia is serious in addressing trafficking