Police open investigation paper on former Deputy Minister

KUALA NERUS: The Royal Malaysia Police have opened an investigation paper regarding allegations of a former deputy minister’s involvement in a human trafficking syndicate in Myanmar.

According to Bernama, the Minister of Home Affairs, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who confirmed the matter, declined to comment further to avoid any speculation.

“The police have opened an investigation paper, and I place full trust in the professionalism of the police as they have already started a file on this issue,” he told reporters after the Mekar Program’s Document Submission for Identification at the Balai Raya Pulau Redang on Saturday.

Earlier reports indicated that the International Humanitarian Organization of Malaysia had submitted a report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission last Wednesday, requesting an investigation into a politician and her husband who were alleged to be involved with a human trafficking syndicate in Myanmar.

Saifuddin Nasution also mentioned the outcome of the ASEAN Ministers’ Meeting on Transnational Crime held in Laos, which he attended recently.

“What has been confirmed by all countries is the increasing trend of human trafficking,” he said.

He added that nearly all ASEAN countries have laws to combat this crime, including Malaysia’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.