Netizens praises government for stricter human trafficking law

Malaysians praise the new imposed stricter human trafficking law

By Karthikraj

Saturday,08 October 2022 9:47 PM MYT

SUBANG JAYA - The amendments to the law of The Anti-Trafficking In Persons And Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM) received immense praises from the netizens today

According to Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, the act is to provide better solutions in tackling the human trafficking and smuggling of people more effectively to ensure the prevention of the trafficking as well.

Publics claim the governmental efforts in amending the laws after the recent spike of human trafficking cases is stricter and more comprehensive compared to previous state of the law.

“The government has taken the issue seriously and necessary amendments have been made in regard to human trafficking laws in Malaysia, this shows the government’s intentions in battling against the crime by imposing harsher punishments and penalties in terms of imprisonment and whipping into the amended laws” said Fatimah Zahrah,36, a lawyer.

Fatima added the implementation of stricter law will need appropriate timing in curbing the crime and the law revised will be effective in the future.

She also added that the law will provide significant improvements to the human trafficking cases in future and more crimes regarding it will be reduced.

“However, the laws implemented is still in its early stages to be proven effective and adequate in combatting the human trafficking crime. And the government is working positively to address the trafficking issue to avoid it in the future, “ she said.

Jaswendran,22 added the amendments made is much stricter and with stricter penalties like whipping, increased fines and jail sentences, the human trafficking crime will eventually come to an end.

“Those changes could give impact with the numbers of crime pertaining to human trafficking will reduce drastically and this will give a harder consequence to the perpetrators” he said

He also added the government's efforts in revising the law is essential to the current situation as the cases of human trafficking is rising day by day. These efforts will also bring a much safer environment for the public.

The government has undertaken several initiatives through the ATIPSOM laws, to strengthen the legal frameworks and to promote the victim centered approach

According to the law, there are 17 provisions amended with improvements to definition of trafficking, various penalties, increased jail sentences and introduction of whipping with more amendments related to provisions related for serious matters

The Amendments to the law to the ATIPSOM came into effect on February 25,2022