Wisma Putra has expressed disappointment over the United States (US) State Department Trafficking in Persons Report 2014
released in Washington DC on June 20, which downgraded Malaysia to Tier 3 from the previous standing of the Tier 2 Watch List.

It said Malaysia was serious and committed in addressing human trafficking and smuggling of migrants.
    
"This commitment is manifested through the significant efforts undertaken to improve the existing mechanisms and effectively combat this heinous crime.
    
"Despite claims that Malaysia made insufficient progress and improvement in areas of prosecution, prevention and protection, on the contrary, Malaysia has consistently pursued measures and initiatives in addressing the issues of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants," it said in a press statement today.

The US State Department itself, in this 2014 report acknowledged these positive measures in efforts to protect victims, where certain victims of labour trafficking were allowed to reside and work in Malaysia.

- Bernama