KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is set to make human trafficking a key priority during its Asean chairmanship in 2025.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the agenda will focus on combating cross-border job scams and trafficking syndicates that exploit vulnerable individuals.
Wisma Putra has identified 939 Malaysians as victims of alleged human trafficking cases, he said.
"Of this number, 721 have been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to locate and assist the remaining 218 individuals," he told the New Straits Times.
The foreign minister was responding to a call from a human rights association urging Malaysia to leverage its Asean chairmanship next year to intensify anti-human trafficking efforts and safeguard victims' rights.
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Anti-human trafficking specialist Mechelle B. Moore said Malaysia could utilize Asean mechanisms, such as the Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC), to spearhead regional initiatives against trafficking and forced labor.
Meanwhile, Mohamad said the government plans to ramp up investigations and prosecutions of trafficking syndicates while strengthening public awareness to prevent more Malaysians from being victimized.
"Human trafficking, particularly job scams offering fake overseas employment, remains a primary concern for the government," he said.
"We have implemented various measures, including establishing a special task force, conducting police investigations, and launching awareness campaigns to curb these syndicates."
The special task force, Mohamad said, will lead efforts to enhance coordination among ministries and agencies for a more unified response to the issue.
"Malaysia aims to make human trafficking a key focus during its Asean chairmanship next year."