Home minister Hamzah Zainudin said the action plan, also known as NAPTIP 3.0 is a strategic document that outlines all plans and efforts to combat human trafficking in Malaysia for the next five years.

He said the action plan is a collaboration between government and non-governmental agencies as well as international agencies.

“NAPTIP 3.0 will strengthen current policies and processes, as well as develop new ones to address gaps in matters related to trafficking in persons in Malaysia,” he said in a virtual press conference today.

NAPTIP 3.0 comprises four pillars, prevention, prosecution and enforcement, protection and partnership. Under these pillars, there will be nine programme areas corresponding to the nine strategic goals and numerous specific objectives and activities as an urgent response to specific challenges in combating human trafficking head-on.

The first pillar, prevention, is aimed at preventing people from becoming victims of human trafficking and deterring people from committing the offence of human trafficking.

“This will include measures such as awareness campaigns focused on the vulnerable groups like migrant workers, the general public as well as employers. Hence, ensuring strategic intervention programmes will inevitably reduce the number of cases when we have a more informed society.”

The second pillar, prosecution and enforcement, is about effective law enforcement. He said that under the action plan, progress will be made to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework to promote a more effective implementation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act.

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