MALAYSIA TABLES ANTI-TIP BILL IN PARLIAMENT, SEEKS

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000753

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR EAP/MTS AND G/TIP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KCRM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA TABLES ANTI-TIP BILL IN PARLIAMENT, SEEKS
QUICK PASSAGE

REF: KUALA LUMPUR 653


1. (U) The Government of Malaysia tabled a comprehensive
Anti-Trafficking in Persons (TIP) bill in Parliament on April
24 and predicted speedy passage. After tabling the bill, de
facto Law Minister and Minister in the Prime Minister's
Department Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz told reporters the
bill would be passed in the current session of Parliament,
though we have not yet been able to confirm this plan
directly with Nazri's office. Parliament, which had been
scheduled to conclude the current session on April 26, has
been extended until May 10 to address a new slate of bills
recently introduced, including the much anticipated anti-TIP
legislation. If not passed in this sitting, Parliment's next
opportunity would the June 18 - July 10 session. Nazri also
advised the press that the newly introduced legislation would
allow Malaysia to accede to the United Nations Protocol to
Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons.


2. (U) Cabinet members spoke out publicly on the need for
the law. Nazri told reporters, "This law will address the
concerns raised about human trafficking and arm enforcement
agencies with the tools to fight it." Women's Minister also
spoke out publicly in support of the legislation,
characterizing human trafficking "as one of the worst crimes
and must be dealt with accordingly." She further explained
to the press that once the bill is passed the Women's
ministry would set up "half-way houses" to provide protection
to trafficking victims. The New Straits Times, a leading
daily heavily influenced by the Malaysian Government, carried
the introduction of the anti-trafficking bill as its sole
front-page story under the headline, "Clout to Act Against
Human Traffickers," along with an inside article entitled,
"Govt goes all out to beat human trafficking." The stories
highlighted the bill's provisions to recognize victims and
punish traffickers with up to 20 years in jail.


3. (SBU) Comment: We will examine the legislation and its
provisions. At this point, the rapid drafting and tabling of
the bill shows great movement on the part of Malaysian
government, which has publicly heralded this bill's
importance for the nation. This step represents a remarkable
change in the GOM's focus from just six months ago.
Persistent, action-oriented and behind-the-scenes diplomacy
have produced results with the Malaysian government on this
principal human rights effort and allowed the Malaysians to
claim the anti-trafficking issue as their own priority.
LAFLEUR