Up to 180 people have been prosecuted so far under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007, Home Ministry
secretary-general Mahmood Adam said.

He said 10 of them had been convicted while the other cases were ongoing.

The act provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years or a fine of up to RM500,000, or both, upon conviction.

Mahmood said the act would be amended from time to time to plug any loophole.

Asked about the inflow of foreigners who carried the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) card, he said the matter would be handled prudently.

He said the Immigration Department and the UNHCR had discussed the question of issuing a special card to those confirmed as refugees.

However, he said, Malaysia only extended sympathy to but did not recognise the estimated 45,000 refugees in the country.

"They cannot take up permanent employment in the country but are allowed to have temporary jobs," he said.


- Bernama