Child traffickers are preying on illiterate parents in several Asian countries, but governments are now working together stem the tide. LEE SHI-IAN and HALIMATUL SAADIAH ABD HAMID take a look at how syndicates cheat the gullible and what is being done to bring the culprits to book

The fight against child trafficking may be extremely daunting but this has not fazed the Malaysian police which is equipping itself for a long and hard battle ahead.

The force is redoubling efforts to put an end to a "trade" that has placed Malaysia on the map for the wrong reasons.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said the battle against child trafficking was an ongoing learning process in which policemen of all ranks were making slow but significant progress.

He said the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIP) Act 2007 was a learning process for all in the force and had to be tackled with seriousness.

There is no room for complacency or a tidak apa (care less) attitude in the matter," he told the New Straits Times.

Ismail said it was impossible for any country to become an overnight success in efforts to bring child traffickers to book.

I can say that the Malaysian police force, nevertheless, has the willpower and determination to bring syndicates involved in child trafficking to justice.

It had been stated that Malaysia's problems in the matter lay in how to safeguard its sea and land borders from being infiltrated by foreigners using the country as a transit point for trafficking in children.

Ismail said the police were working with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Royal Malaysian Navy to step up patrols and surveillance along coastal areas.

He said several measures had been implemented, including working with foreign counterparts, by exchanging information, experience and expertise in child trafficking.

We have close ties with all our counterparts in Southeast Asian countries and are constantly exchanging intelligence.

We have also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Australian police to combat such activities.

There are also plans by the police to use satellites to monitor ships and vessels frequenting Malaysia's waters.

However, discussions are expected to take time, with enforcement a problem area as allocations will be required for the purchase of more vessels for marine enforcement agencies.

A recent United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) assessment of child trafficking in seven Asian countries, including Malaysia, revealed that they had yet to stem the tide despite the best efforts of the authorities.

The other countries were China, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Unicef representative to Malaysia Youssouf Oomar said that there had been 39 prosecutions and four convictions since ATIP came into effect in February last year.

But the authorities are still short of well-trained personnel and this is affecting efforts to fight child trafficking.

Between 2003 and 2006, 160 people were convicted in Malaysia for trafficking and abduction of children.

Most of them were involved in child trafficking for sexual exploitation," Youssouf added.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime recently revealed that human trafficking remained the third most profitable illicit trade after arms and drugs.

It is estimated to generate US$9.5 billion (RM33.25 billion) in revenue annually.

Youssouf said the Unicef study was not conducted to point fingers at any country or agency but rather to act as a catalyst so that action could be taken by all parties to tackle the problem.

Human and child trafficking is a transnational problem and not something that any single agency or party can solve. It requires coordination and cooperation between enforcement agencies from various countries.

The media also has an important role to play in creating awareness among the public with constant exposure.

Once the public is sensitive to these issues, they can also assist the government with information and tip-offs.

For example, villagers living along Malaysia's coastline could inform the authorities if they spot suspicious vessels frequenting the country's waterways.

Also read:
» Parents blinded by syndicate members' promises of wealth

» Malaysia is transit point

» Refugees fleeing war often among victims