MALAYSIA'S WOMEN'S MINISTRY PROVIDES TIP UPDATE

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000230

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR EAP/MTS AND G/TIP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI KTIP MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA'S WOMEN'S MINISTRY PROVIDES TIP UPDATE

REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 102 - MALAYSIA 2009 TIP REPORT

B. 08 KL 1073 - GOM SEEKS USG TIP EXPERTISE

C. 08 KL 1017 - INTERIM TIP ASSESSMENT

D. 08 KL 495 - BURMESE ALLEGE TRAFFICKING AT BORDER

E. 08 KL 448 - AMBASSADOR MEETS WOMEN'S MINISTER


1. (SBU) Summary: Director General (DG) Noorul Ainur from
the Women's Ministry briefed the Embassy on March 20 about
recent Ministry efforts to combat trafficking in persons
(TIP). The DG described progress in working with local NGOs
and initiating a nascent TIP awareness program, and also
provided some budgetary information. Poloff raised ongoing
concerns about the Government of Malaysia's (GOM) response to
labor trafficking and credible reports of Immigration
officials participating in the trafficking of Burmese
refugees.


2. (SBU) Comment: We have come a long way since the Women's
Ministry (and other GOM offices) severed substantive contact
on TIP issues with the Embassy in the wake of the 2007 Tier 3
ranking, which left us without access during the critical
launching period of Malaysia's anti-TIP law. Post's
relationship with the Women's Ministry has dramatically
improved over the past year, allowing for frank discussions
on TIP and for U.S. recommendations to be heard. As the DG
was quick to admit, the Ministry could benefit greatly from
technical expertise on such topics as providing social
services to TIP victims and conducting a national level TIP
awareness program. End Summary and Comment.


3. (SBU) Noorul Ainur, DG of the Department for the
Development of Women in the Women's Ministry, initiated a
March 20 briefing for the Embassy to discuss the Ministry's
recent efforts to combat TIP. As the DG explained, the
Ministry is reaching out to local NGOs, starting with the
Women's Aid Organization (WAO),which operates a women's
shelter and specializes in domestic violence. WAO provided
trainers for a three-day workshop for 20 Women's Ministry
protection officers on the "Handling of Traumatized Victims."
(Note: Protection officers are ministry officers tasked with
assisting and interviewing suspected and identified TIP
victims. End note.) Noorul described the Ministry's initial
steps in a TIP awareness program, which currently features an
information brochure available in English and Malay. The
Ministry plans future editions printed in Chinese,
Vietnamese, and Tagalog. Noorul explained that the Ministry
had distributed the brochures via local NGOs. Poloff
suggested that such materials also be distributed at ports of
entry, including airports, and that the Ministry expand its
efforts through other media. (Note: Both the Ministry's
outreach to NGOs and initiation of public awareness efforts
reflect specific recommendations we provided to her in late
2008 based on the U.S. "action plan." End Note.)


4. (SBU) In response to our request for budget figures
related to TIP, Noorul explained that the Department of
Women's Development spent almost 2.4 million ringgit (about
USD 650,000 USD) to renovate the Ministry's adult TIP
victims' shelter in Kuala Lumpur and the new shelter in the
East Malaysian state of Sabah. The annual operating budget,
covering staff salaries and utilities, is about 783,000
ringgit (212,000 USD) for each shelter. Currently, the
Ministry operates three shelters and is planning to open
several more, including one in Johor state.


5. (SBU) Poloff acknowledged the Women's Ministry's positive
and concrete measures since passage of the comprehensive TIP
law. In addition, we highlighted critical areas that remain
to be addressed in Malaysia's anti-trafficking effort.
Poloff noted the serious concerns the international community
and USG have about the extent of alleged labor trafficking
within Malaysia (ref A). We also raised the issue of
providing protection for adult male TIP victims, since
existing and planned shelters are intended only for women and
children. Poloff emphasized that both the international
community and the U.S. government were concerned about the
credible reports of Immigration officials' involvement in
trafficking Burmese refugees and were closely monitoring the
GOM's response to the allegations (ref D).

KEITH