Speaking after the ministry’s monthly meeting, Hamzah said advocacy efforts and cooperation with NGOs were crucial as Malaysia looked to curb human trafficking and improve its ranking in the US’ State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report.

He said he believed that NGOs had a good understanding of the issue and could offer more than criticism.

Last year, Malaysia fell to Tier 3 after spending three years on the Tier 2 Watchlist in the 2021 TIP report.

The downgrade came after a string of complaints by rights groups and US authorities over the alleged exploitation of migrant workers in plantations and factories in Malaysia.

On a separate matter, Hamzah said the national crime rate dropped by 23% in 2021 with police recording 148 cases for every 100,000 residents.

Meanwhile, Hamzah also said the ministry was drawing up a new blueprint to strengthen border controls this year and that four new entry points into the country would be opened.

These entry points are at Teluk Melano and Kapit in Sarawak, Pengerang in Johor and Setiu, Terengganu.