PUTRAJAYA, July 30 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry (KDN) will request allocation in Budget 2025 to open more Baitul Mahabbah, a care centre to accommodate foreign children under 10, said Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said three centres are operating in Nilai in Negeri Sembilan, Papar in Sabah, and Bekenu in Sarawak, adding that another three are expected to open in Kedah, Kelantan, and Johor this year.
He told reporters this after the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons celebration here today.
Saifuddin Nasution said 170 children are being housed at the three Baitul Mahabbah facilities, adding that they will be repatriated as soon as their travel documents are issued.
“Ideally, we want to move all the children out of immigration detention centres to a single facility where they can receive informal education, and healthcare, engage in activities, and participate in programmes…(instead of) being placed with adults,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said KDN will strive to address the 16 improvement recommendations and action plans proposed in the 2024 United States Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report to ensure Malaysia’s status is upgraded to Tier 1.
“The report highlights eight positive aspects that we have achieved, seven negative aspects that need improvement, 16 focus points that if we can comply with,” he said, adding that Malaysia has outlined three main focuses to achieve the goal.
He said the three focuses are enhancing inter-agency cooperation, intensifying efforts to identify and protect victims, and improving prosecution processes.
On June 25, Malaysia was upgraded to Tier 2 in the 2024 TIP Report. KDN described it as ‘strategic and significant’ since Malaysia was previously assessed at Tier 3 Watchlist in 2023, with its last Tier 2 rating in 2017.
Tier 2 is defined as not fully meeting the minimum US standards for eliminating human trafficking but showing significant efforts to comply.
-- BERNAMA
