The government has been told to take the 'Trafficking in Persons Report 2014' seriously and do more to curb human trafficking than just issue denials.

"Human trafficking is not a tiny problem that can be swept under the carpet anymore.

"The Malaysian federal government must take the (report) seriously to protect our international reputation," said Senai assemblyperson Wong Shu Qi in a statement last night.

"More than a week after the report was published followed by a statement of denial issued by Wisma Putra, Malaysians have yet to see a more serious commitment by the federal government in combatting human trafficking," she added.

Wong ( right ) cited a report in the Star revealing only nine traffickers caught and convicted despite 650 human trafficking victims identified last year.

Last week the Foreign Affairs Ministry expressed disappointment over the US State Department report that downgraded Malaysia to Tier 3 from the previous standing of Tier 2 Watch List.

Countries on the report's lowest tier 3 may face US economic sanctions.

She also cited UK's The Guardian on June 27 reporting 1,023 Nepalese had died in Malaysia between mid-2006 and April 2014, "more than in any other Nepalese destination country".

"More than 10 percent of these deaths were classified as suicide. Eighty-three Nepalese died in Malaysia between Jan 1 and April  13 this year - an average of almost one a day,” she said.

"The statistic is frightening and paints Malaysia as a hell for migrant workers instead of a 'Heaven on Earth' that we use to describe Malaysia," sais Wong, adding the problem has "tarnished" the country's image.

"The BN-led government must address the matter in a broader sense to fully resolve the long overdue problem," she said.