Home ministry deputy secretary-general Fauzi Md Isa said according to the latest data, reported cases have risen significantly compared to previous years.

“We are seeing a rising trend in human trafficking cases, with 115 cases reported in 2021, compared to 17 in 2008,” he said at a forum aimed at educating trainee teachers to identify and prevent potential human trafficking cases.

As per statistics from the anti-trafficking task force (Mapo), Fauzi said between 2015 and June this year, there were 1,972 reported cases, while 2,902 people were arrested in connection with the cases.

Engender Consultancy founder Omna Sreeni-Ong said Malaysia needed to do more to combat human trafficking, but it was something the government couldn’t do alone.

“It is such a complex issue, and that is why our programme is centred on collaboration,” she said.

She added that to truly address the heinous crime, all of society needed to get involved.

The US embassy’s deputy chief of mission, Michael Newbill, said that despite an increasing number of cases every year, there was still a lack of awareness among the public on the gravity of human trafficking.

“Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking, forced labour, or sex trafficking. It can happen to both men and women, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, or socioeconomic class,” he said.

Newbill also echoed Omna’s sentiment, saying that to combat human trafficking it requires a “whole-of-society” approach.

“While Malaysia does have a good foundation of laws in place (to combat human trafficking), it still requires effort from the whole country,” he said, adding that the same was true for the US as well.

“You can have laws and enforcement but traffickers continue to evade the government’s efforts, as they are highly motivated and prey on the most vulnerable members of society.”