PETALING JAYA: Over 30 civil servants have been investigated in connection with offences linked to human trafficking, says Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (pic).

The Home Minister said that police statistics showed that 33 civil servants were investigated while 13 were charged in court, 16 released while four others are still under investigation.

“Police statistics also showed that since 2020, 73 civil servants have been arrested in connection with trafficking of persons offences,” said Hamzah.

He added that the Immigration Department also reported that 40 of its personnel were investigated.

“Six were investigated under the Malaysia Anti Corruption Commission Act.

Hamzah also said that the Department also reported that five of its personnel were investigated under the Immigration Act, while disciplinary action was taken against 27 personnel while two others resigned.

He was talking to reporters after launching the World Day Against Trafficking of People at the Central Zone Women’s Safe House here on Thursday.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun also attended the event.

“What we need today is cooperation because we use two laws, namely the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act and the Immigration Act 1959/63,” said Hamzah.

“We will not tolerate modern slavery in the country which taints the image of our country,” he added.

Commenting on a report that Malaysia remains at level three (Tier 3) in the United States (US) State Department’s Annual Report on Trafficking in Persons 2022, Hamzah explained that his party will document raids and arrests carried out by the authorities through video recordings.

He said that over the past few years, only written reports were given for the US State Department’s Annual Report.

“This time I want the videos of arrests and operations to be carried out. When an arrest is made or released, it will be made into a documentary that this is the work we have done,” said Hamzah.

“We do all that to inform the world that we do not take this issue for granted,” he added.

Meanwhile, Rina said that from January to July this year, 131victims suspected of being trafficked were rescued by the police and other agencies.

She added that over a ten-year period over 60% of cases received involved the sexual exploitation of women and children apart from the transplantation of human organs and forced labour.