VZCZCXRO3181
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #0094/01 0430817
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 120817Z FEB 10 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3786
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 17 KUALA LUMPUR 000094 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR G/TIP, G-LAURA PENA, INL, DRL, PRM, EAP/MTS, 
EAP/RSP, STATE PASS FOR USA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KTIP KCRM KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG KFRD ASEC
PREF, ELAB, KMCA, MY 
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA'S TENTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 
REPORT 
 
REF: A. STATE 294--PREPARING THE TENTH ANNUAL 
        TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT 
     ¶B. KL 58--MALAYSIA: MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS UPDATE 
        ON ANTI-TIP EFFORTS 
     ¶C. KL 6--TIP: LABOR DG LABOUR SAYS PROGRESS ON 
        LABOR TRAFFICKING ISSUES 
     ¶D. 09 KL 1025--SUCCESSFUL ANTI-TIP TRAINING COMPLETED 
     ¶E. 09 KL 934--TIP WORKSHOP FOR JOURNALISTS - A FIRST 
     ¶F. 09 KL 906--MALAYSIA: GTIP STAFF VISIT AUGUST 15-21 
     ¶G. 09 KL 896--ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS CONDUCTS 
        TIP TRAINING 
     ¶H. 09 KL 888--MEETING WITH HOME AFFAIRS SECGEN AND 
        TEAM ON TIP 
     ¶I. 09 KL 832--HEAD PROSECUTOR ON TIP CASELOAD AND 
        REQUEST FOR TRAINING 
     ¶J. 09 KL 775--TIP AMBASSADOR CDEBACA'S VISIT TO 
        MALAYSIA AUGUST 25-27 
     ¶K. 09 KL 704--TIP: MALAYSIA TIER THREE REASSESSMENT 
     ¶L. 09 KL 632--TIP: GOM INTENSIFIES PUBLIC EDUCATION 
        ON TIP 
     ¶M. SEPTELS 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  The government of Malaysia (GOM) made 
significant efforts to address the challenges associated with 
trafficking in persons (TIP) during this reporting period. 
Malaysia reacted to its placement on Tier Three in the 2009 
Report in a constructive and responsible manner.  Senior 
government leaders stated publicly that addressing the TIP 
problem was a top priority.  This change in approach was 
accompanied by a significant improvement in Malaysian-USG 
coordination on human trafficking issues.  The 
government-influenced print media increased the quantity and 
quality of its reporting on TIP, an indication of the GOM's 
determination to be seen as proactively confronting the issue 
(ref L).  The GOM improved its effectiveness in combating TIP 
in the areas of arrest and prosecution of traffickers, 
protection of victims of TIP, and TIP prevention.  In 
November, the National Council of Anti Trafficking in 
Persons, which was created in 2008, shared with Post a draft 
of its newly created National TIP Action Plan that set goals 
and objectives for improvement in the GOM's counter-TIP 
efforts for the next five years.  The GOM launched an 
anti-TIP public awareness campaign that was a mix of 
advertisements in print media, radio spots, and government 
officials addressing the issue on the local television talk 
show circuit.  The GOM also invested considerable effort in 
training its law enforcement, prosecutors, and judiciary in 
how to better utilize the Anti-TIP Act by hosting numerous 
workshops, seminars, and conferences, some of which was 
provided by the USG. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The GOM took steps to build its capacity to combat 
TIP.  The Ministry for Women, Family, and Community 
Development (Women's Ministry) operated three TIP victim 
shelters, two for women, one for minors, and identified a 
fourth and a fifth shelter for male victims of TIP scheduled 
to begin operating in 2010.  The Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) 
referred 454 suspected TIP victims to the government-operated 
shelters and rescued and repatriated over 880 trafficking 
victims during the reporting period.  Over the course of the 
reporting year, law enforcement and prosecutors became more 
comfortable implementing the comprehensive anti-trafficking 
law (ATIP Act), which went into full force on February 28, 
¶2008.  During the reporting period, the GOM initiated 180 TIP 
investigations, filed 123 charges against 69 suspected 
traffickers, and convicted 7 persons under the ATIP Act. 
Government agencies coordinated with local NGOs on some TIP 
cases.  The government launched an investigation into 
allegations that immigration officials were involved in the 
trafficking of refugees to the Thai border area.  On July 20, 
police arrested five immigration officials for their 
involvement, with one being officially charged. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Despite significant efforts, Malaysia has 
substantial room for improvement in other TIP areas such as 
labor trafficking.  Government officials investigated some 
labor trafficking cases and began a comprehensive review of 
labor outsourcing companies, but made only limited progress 
in the arrest and prosecution of labor traffickers.  Malaysia 
was still developing an understanding for how to enhance 
protective services to victims of human trafficking and 
overcoming a pervasive historical view of such victims as 
illegal aliens, prostitutes, and/or criminals.  Despite 
repeated attempts by the GOM to conclude a new Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) on migrant workers with Indonesia, the 
countries continued to maintain an MOU that allows for 
confiscation of passports of migrant workers.  The GOM's 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 002 * 
*********************** 
 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 003 * 
*********************** 
 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 004 * 
*********************** 
 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 005 * 
*********************** 
 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 006 * 
*********************** 
 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 007 * 
*********************** 
 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 008 * 
*********************** 
 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 009 * 
*********************** 
 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 010 * 
*********************** 
 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 011 * 
*********************** 
 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 012 * 
*********************** 
 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 013 * 
*********************** 
 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 014 * 
*********************** 
 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 015 * 
*********************** 
 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 016 * 
*********************** 
 
 
 
*********************** 
* Missing Section 017 * 
***********************