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Zahid: Malaysia remains on Tier 2 of US watch list

Malaysia remains on the Tier 2 watch list in the 2016 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report of the United States, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The report, issued by the United States Department of State in Washington yesterday, had assessed 188 countries including Malaysia in terms of the prevention, prosecution and protection aspects, he said in a statement today.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, said that overall the Malaysian government welcomed the constructive criticism and recommendations contained in the report and would take the appropriate follow-up action.

“Malaysia will remain committed to combating this inhumane crime,” he said.

He said the US Department of State had taken note of the efforts taken by Malaysia in strengthening existing legislation through amendments that came into force on Nov 18 last year.

Government financial support for the NGOs would be subject to their capability and performance, as practised in the developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, he said.

Ahmad Zahid said the implementation of the Act would run concurrently with the National Action Plan (2016–2020) that was scheduled to be launched this month.

“Malaysia will also continue to work with its strategic partner countries including the United States to improve the prosecution aspect to increase the number of convictions for this crime in the future,” he said.

- Bernama

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