Malaysia passes Anti-Trafficking (Amendment) Bill 2021
The amendment bill 2021, which provides for heavier jail sentences for several offences, was approved unanimously after a debate by 18 MPs on Wednesday, reports Malay Mail.
Regarding the matter, Home Minister of the country Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the bill will be tabled in the Dewan Negara (upper house of the Parliament) next week.
He said the tabling of the bill would be expedited so that it could be approved and enforced as soon as possible.
“This is to avoid a recurrence of boat capsize tragedies involving immigrants in our waters, like the one that happened in Kota Tinggi on Wednesday.
“If possible, this bill (law) will be used as early as next year,” he told reporters at the Bersatu headquarters here on Thursday.
Hamzah said yesterday’s tragedy in Tanjung Balau, Kota Tinggi showed that many foreigners wanted to enter Malaysia to look for jobs.
He said this caused some immigrants to fall victim to irresponsible parties.
“With this law, we will punish those who try to bring in people illegally, whether as foreign workers or forced labour,” said Hamzah, who is Bersatu secretary-general.
So far, the bodies of 19 victims of the boat capsize have been recovered while 17 others are believed to be still missing.
