VICTIMS of human trafficking will be placed in shelters for their own protection.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said this would allow the authorities to interview them.
“The shelters are not detention centres, but for the victims’ best interests, to protect them from pimps or syndicates which trafficked in them,” Nazri said.
Earlier, Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) had questioned why local victims of human trafficking had to remain in shelters for up to two years while it was a maximum of three months for foreigners.
Nazri said evidence had to be obtained before action could be taken against those responsible.
“The two years and three months for locals and foreigners respectively are to allow the police, the Immigration and the Customs departments to interview them to identify those responsible,” he said.
As to the different lengths of time required for locals and foreigners to remain in a shelter, Nazri said a local would be able to stay in a shelter longer compared with a foreign national.
“Two years for a foreigner would be too long, while three months is sufficient for us to obtain information from him.
“A Malaysian, on the other hand, would not find it difficult to stay in a shelter for two years.”
Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) asked that those dealing with trafficked persons be trained.
“What kind of training will be given to those dealing with trafficked persons to ensure they don’t receive the same kind of treatment?”
Nazri acknowledged that training was important and assured the Dewan Rakyat that welfare officers would be properly trained.
“I admit that insufficiently-trained and insensitive officers who ask crude questions are often the problem in cases such as these.
“Welfare officers from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry are being trained to deal with and help victims of human trafficking.”– NSTPi