PUTRAJAYA, Feb 16 — The Home Ministry (KDN) will shift the children detained at the Immigration Detention Depot soon and place them under the care of non-governmental organisations (NGO) that specifically specialise in the welfare of children.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said he has already identified the profile of the children, their numbers and where they were detained.
“Very soon, I will bring them out. I have been dealing with NGOs that are involved in providing welfare services to children,” he told reporters after attending a session with members of the media yesterday night.
Speaking of a Bangladeshi child who was found in a container at West Port, Port Klang on January 17, Saifuddin said the Bangladeshi minor would be sent home next week.
The eight-year-old from Chittagong, Bangladesh had accidentally wandered into a container and was locked inside the container for six days before being spotted by Malaysian authorities and given treatment at the Tuanku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang and currently under the care of an NGO.
“KDN has managed to locate the kid’s family and I have informed my counterpart in Bangladesh that the kid will be sent back. All the documentation process at the Embassy has also been done,” he said.
When asked about Malaysia’s ranking in Tier Three of the Trafficking in Persons Report released by the US State Department (US Tip Report) 2021, apparently for not fully meeting the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking and not making significant efforts to do so, the minister said he had already contacted the US Embassy to explain the steps and initiatives taken by Malaysia.
The government has amended the anti-trafficking law and Employment Act to include a more detailed definition of forced labour.
“There was an opportunity to engage with the US Ambassador and I explained the initiatives that Malaysia has taken because it involves a number of elements that are very clear, like detention, investigation and prosecution.
“Therefore our efforts to overcome human trafficking are measured through the three components. We give serious attention because the position has disadvantages to the country, especially when products from our country are barred from entering the US,” he said.
According to Saifuddin, recently Sime Darby Plantation which was barred by the US from sending palm oil products, over allegations that the company had used forced labour, has been cleared but two other companies are still facing sanctions from the US.
— Bernama
