Malaysia has been on the tier 2 watchlist for four years under the US state department’s Trafficking in Persons report. However, last year’s annual report downgraded Malaysia to tier 3, which is the lowest ranking. Recently, Putrajaya announced that amendments will be tabled to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007. We speak to a local human rights NGO, Tenaganita, to find out what is lacking in the current Act and how Putrajaya plans to improve it.

Melanie Abraham contributed to this report.