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Police probe missing UK teen case after Malaysia arrival

Police probe missing UK teen case after Malaysia arrival

The Sun11-07-2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Police are investigating the disappearance of a British teenager who entered Malaysia through Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on June 7. The case has been classified as a missing person report, with authorities appealing for public assistance.
Acting CID Director Datuk Fadil Marsus confirmed the youth, identified as David Renz Galletes Balisong, is believed to still be in the country. 'Active investigations are ongoing to gather all relevant information for case resolution,' he stated in an official release.
Authorities have circulated the teenager's photograph to aid search efforts. Fadil cautioned against public speculation that might disrupt investigations, emphasising, 'Members of the public with information are urged to channel it to the police.'
Inspector Hazuin Jan Abdul Hamid of KLIA District Police Headquarters is leading the probe. Witnesses may contact the hotline 017-7369187.
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Is KLIA 'counter setting' a symptom of deeper migrant exploitation?
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Is KLIA 'counter setting' a symptom of deeper migrant exploitation?

THE recent detention of an enforcement officer at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 has renewed public scrutiny over a clandestine practice known as 'counter setting'. This tactic, where individuals are allowed to bypass formal immigration procedures, raises serious concerns not only regarding border security and official corruption but also about structural vulnerabilities in Malaysia's migration management, labour demands and institutional accountability. Last November, nearly 50 immigration officers were reassigned following investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) into a similar syndicate operating at KLIA. A senior immigration officer, believed to be the mastermind behind the network, is expected to face charges over a human trafficking ring that allegedly facilitated the unlawful entry of foreign nationals without immigration clearance. 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Under both the UN Trafficking Protocol (Palermo Protocol) and Malaysia's Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM), human trafficking consists of three essential elements: Act (e.g., recruitment, transportation), Means (e.g., coercion, fraud, abuse of power), and Purpose (e.g., exploitation such as forced labour or sexual servitude). However, ATIPSOM does not clearly criminalise attempts to traffic nor does it automatically recognise someone as a trafficked person simply because they entered the country irregularly. As studies have established, most trafficking victims enter Malaysia legally which means that they are in possession of valid passport and are even given a 30-day visa free entry if they are from Southeast Asian countries. Therefore, it is nearly impossible to establish the key component of 'exploitation' unless it is evidently demonstrated at the border entry. 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Labour agents and recruitment networks Malaysia's fluctuating labour policies such as the temporary freeze (and subsequent lifting) on the intake of Bangladeshi workers, for example, have created a market of desperation. To fulfil recruitment contracts or avoid refunding fees, unscrupulous agents may resort to corrupt arrangements with enforcement personnel to smuggle workers into the country. One major concern is the licensing regime. In Malaysia, work agents are not required to possess individual licences. Licences are tied to agencies, creating a regulatory blind spot. Some agents operate without registration; others exploit legal platforms while engaging in parallel black-market operations. Disturbingly, many such agents are foreign nationals already residing in Malaysia, which helps them gain the trust of vulnerable migrant communities. Upon arrival, many of these migrants are placed in overcrowded accommodation and squalid conditions. 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Beyond KLIA: Unpacking Malaysia's systemic migration challenges
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Beyond KLIA: Unpacking Malaysia's systemic migration challenges

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