Malaysia vows action on Myanmar human trafficking

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (AP): Malaysia's prime minister vowed to investigate a scathing report by US lawmakers saying thousands of Myanmar refugees were handed over to human traffickers with some ending up working in Thai brothels.
The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations said in the report that illegal Myanmar migrants deported from Malaysia were often forced to work in brothels, fishing boats and restaurants across the border in Thailand if they had no money to purchase their freedom.
The report was based on a yearlong review by committee staff who spoke to migrants from military-ruled Myanmar, also known as Burma, and human rights activists.
Prime Minister Najib Razak said Friday that his government hopes to get more information on the report from US authorities.
"We will take appropriate action," Najib told reporters. "We do not want Malaysia to be used as a point for human trafficking ... but we need to know more facts."
Earlier this year, former Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar dismissed claims of human trafficking at the border as "wild allegations." But national police chief Musa Hassan said earlier this month that Malaysian and Thai police and immigration officials were investigating the claims.
Many who flee persecution in Myanmar try to stay illegally in Malaysia, which does not recognise refugees and can arrest them, whip them as punishment then deport them.
According to the Senate committee report, "a few thousand" Myanmar migrants in recent years might have become victims of extortion and trafficking once they were deported across Malaysia's northern border with Thailand.
"Upon arrival at the Malaysia-Thailand border, human traffickers reportedly take possession of the migrants," the report said.