HOME MINISTRY DRAFTING NEXT ACTION PLAN ON ANTI-TRAFFICKING - SAIFUDDIN NASUTION

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry is currently in the process of drafting the National Action Plan on Anti-Trafficking in Persons 2026-2030 (NAPTIP 4.0), as a continuation of the successes achieved under NAPTIP 3.0, said Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

He said that the new action plan would focus on identifying victims in high-risk sectors, strengthening investigation and prosecution capacities, including holding accountable any complicit civil servants, and improving access to interpreters, as well as enhancing case coordination and management.

“This includes strengthening the role of Victim Assistance Specialists in Sabah and Sarawak, enhancing data integration, digitalising enforcement processes, standardising victim protection efforts nationwide, and reinforcing cross-agency, intergovernmental, and non-governmental cooperation, to build a more agile and effective national response ecosystem,” he said.

He said this at a press conference after attending the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (WDAT) event, here, today.

According to him, the implementation of NAPTIP 3.0 has shown positive outcomes, as Malaysia maintained its Tier 2 ranking in the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2025, released on Sept 30 in Washington.

He said that the rating reflected international recognition of the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen regulatory mechanisms, dismantle syndicate networks, enhance transparency and accountability among agencies, and reinforce victim-centred recovery initiatives.

“The government stands firm on its zero-tolerance policy against human trafficking, a heinous crime which robs individuals of their dignity and freedom,” he said.

Launched in March 2021, NAPTIP 3.0 outlines Malaysia’s strategies and actions to combat human trafficking over the implementation period.

-- BERNAMA