SUHAKAM continued to participate in the National Council for Anti-Trafficking
in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrant (MAPO) and visited shelters for
victims of human trafficking. Malaysia’s Tier-2 Watchlist ranking by the US State
Department for the second consecutive year, is of concern. SUHAKAM received
nine complaints related to employment, recruitment agencies’ involvement in
human trafficking, non-payment of domestic worker salaries, being forced to
work 18 hours daily, employers withholding workers’ passports, and preventing
them from undergoing medical check-ups including COVID-19 tests. We
noted an international NGO’s allegations about forced labour and human
trafficking involving FGV Holdings Berhad (FGV) and Sime Darby Plantation
Berhad. Investigations into the matter will take place in 2021.
SUHAKAM gave our input for the National Action Plan on Anti-Trafficking in
Persons (NAPTIP) 2021-2025. SUHAKAM highlighted the importance of human
rights approaches and the state’s obligations to combat human trafficking
in Malaysia; efforts to prevent human trafficking and addressing root causes
and risk factors. Malaysia must ensure that victims of human trafficking have
adequate protection, care and support; and strengthen the judicial and
prosecution processes. The government must also strengthen and ensure
law enforcement agencies can execute their duties effectively; implement
measures to address labour exploitation and child trafficking.
As of October, there are 178,450 refugees and asylum-seekers registered
with UNHCR in Malaysia. Two major issues were highlighted: (i) the arrival of
the boat people in Malaysia and (ii) the backlash from Malaysians towards
refugees and asylum seekers especially during the COVID-19 pandemic
lockdown from March to June. SUHAKAM investigated the landings of about
752 refugees comprising women and minors in Kedah/Perlis waters on four
different occasions. SUHAKAM observed that the Wawasan Immigration
Camp lacked proper facilities as it was a temporary set up. The camp was not
conducive for refugees and the personnel working there alike.
The Malaysian Government announced its commitment to develop a National
Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAPBHR) for Malaysia in June 2019,
followed by a commitment by Cabinet in December 2019. SUHAKAM worked
closely with BHEUU in spearheading the development of the country’s first
NAPBHR. BHEUU, together with SUHAKAM and the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), organised a fact-finding consultation themed ‘Towards
Malaysia’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights’ on 7, 8 and
14 December. It was to justify the proposed thematic areas, namely labour,
environment and good governance.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020
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