NST Leader: Behind the glitter, a dark reality for migrants

New Straits Times

8 hours ago

Malaysia is positioned at a unique geographical and economic intersection. The peninsula, together with Sabah and Sarawak, is shielded from earthquakes, typhoons and volcanoes.
It offers desirable destinations, lush rainforests, rich biodiversity, scenic beaches and warm weather. Malaysia is also a trading powerhouse, attracting multinationals and manufacturers.
Yet there is one aspect of its appeal Malaysia might wish to avoid — the same allure that attracts multinational investment also draws migrants desperate for jobs, informal trade or asylum.
Migrant workers are eager to find a way into Malaysia's economy and prosperity. But the reality is often grim.
Migrants, in their eagerness to benefit from Malaysia's prosperity, often end up disappointed — and sometimes, dead.
Malaysia's appeal also attracts syndicates that exploit vulnerable people, trapping them in forced labour and prostitution.
The government, long criticised for its failure to address human trafficking, recently dismantled a syndicate involving Immigration Department officers conspiring with traffickers to bring in migrant workers.
On June 2, a syndicate tried to smuggle in 240 Bangladeshis, 33 Pakistanis and six Indian nationals into Malaysia through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
The authorities issued Not-To-Land (NTL) orders to these people, whose travel patterns matched those of previous illegal entries linked to trafficking syndicates. The foreigners had identical travel itineraries, scripted responses and suspicious documentation.
Between June 2023 and May 2024, 25,568 NTL orders were recorded nationwide. The highest numbers were logged during public holidays and school breaks.
Malaysia has been added to the United States State Department's Tier 2 Watch List, indicating it meets the minimum standards in addressing human trafficking, though serious concerns remain.
The government must better identify and protect vulnerable people, particularly household workers and those in sectors such as oil palm and disposable glove manufacturing.
Several key recommendations include training enforcement officers to investigate and prosecute traffickers, expanding labour protections and educating migrants of their rights, especially in holding on to their passports.
The government should eliminate recruitment or placement fees, expand freedom of movement and increase victims' access to communication with people outside shelter or detention facilities.
Above all, the government must expose and prosecute officials complicit in human trafficking. Without their protection, such exploitation would be harder to sustain.