PUTRAJAYA, Oct 1 — Malaysia has retained its Tier 2 ranking in the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report released by the United States Department of State (USDOS) in Washington yesterday.
The Home Ministry (KDN) described the achievement as international recognition of the country’s continuous efforts in combating human trafficking crimes.
“The report acknowledged that Malaysia has demonstrated significant efforts and progress in the fight against human trafficking,” it said in a statement today.
Among the key achievements recorded were an increase in investigations, prosecution of public officials, higher allocations of funds for anti-trafficking activities, expanded approval for work permits for victims, and amendments to the Sabah and Sarawak Labour Ordinances.
Other efforts include the launch of a trafficking data system, as well as the establishment of an Anti-Trafficking Advisory Group with the participation of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
KDN added that the USDOS had outlined 15 areas for improvement for Malaysia to consider ahead of the next evaluation period, from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026.
“These include strengthening victim identification, enhancing investigations, abolishing recruitment fees, expanding cooperation with NGOs, and establishing a dedicated fund for the Victim Assistance Specialist (VAS) programme, including the appointment of VAS experts in Sabah and Sarawak,” it said.
In line with this, the government has set several strategic directions, including reinforcing public service integrity, establishing an internationally recognised victim management system, enhancing collaboration with civil society organisations (CSOs) and NGOs, as well as leveraging digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI).
KDN said the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (MAPO), led by the ministry in collaboration with other agencies, remains committed to implementing integrated measures, including addressing emerging trends such as job scam syndicates.
“The fight against this crime requires close cooperation from multiple stakeholders, including NGOs, CSOs, international organisations, academia and the employer sector, through a holistic approach based on the pillars of enforcement and law, protection and prevention,” it said.
This comprehensive approach will strengthen Malaysia’s effectiveness in combating human trafficking while ensuring greater protection for victims.
