Bersama tangani isu pemerdagangan manusia

KUALA LUMPUR 26 Ogos — Malaysia dan Australia hari ini mencapai kata sepakat untuk memberi komitmen yang tinggi dalam menangani isu pemerdagangan manusia yang menjadi fokus penting kedua-dua negara.

Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein berkata, isu pemerdagangan manusia merupakan satu isu yang perlu ditangani dalam konteks dua hala dan serantau.

Ke arah itu, katanya, kemahuan politik kedua-dua negara amat diperlukan bagi memastikan semua agensi yang terlibat dalam menangani isu pemerdagangan manusia dapat memberikan kerjasama yang baik.

Beliau berkata, Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak juga telah memberi persetujuan kepada pihaknya untuk mengorak langkah lebih jauh dalam usaha menangani isu itu yang mencetuskan tanggapan dunia bahawa Malaysia sebagai negara transit. - Utusan

Akta Anti Pemerdagangan Orang 2007 akan dipinda atasi kelemahan

KUALA LUMPUR 26 Ogos — Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia (Suhakam) mencadangkan kepada pejabat Peguam Negara supaya menumpukan kepada usaha bagi meningkatkan kemahiran Polis Diraja Malaysia dalam beberapa perkara berhubung Pemerdagangan Orang.

Pesuruhjaya Suhakam, Datuk Dr. Raj Abdul Karim berkata, dua kelemahan Polis yang dikenal pasti suruhanjaya itu berhubung Pemerdagangan Orang ialah berhubung soal mengenal pasti mangsa dan proses penghantaran pulang mangsa yang dilihat masih mempunyai kelemahan.

Dr. Raj berkata, perkara itu perlu diperbaiki segera bagi membanteras kes pemerdagangan orang di negara ini serta memastikan mangsa tidak dilayan seperti pesalah.

“Kita perlu melihat kembali Undang-undang Anti Penyeludupan di Malaysia kerana terdapat sedikit kekurangan dan ada sesetengah perkara yang boleh diperkukuhkan, katanya. - Utusan

Brickfields Police Bust Prostitution Syndicate

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Brickfields police believe they have busted a prostitution syndicate in Taman Desa here, after the arrest of a local man and five foreign women, during a raid on a house used as a massage parlour.

Brickfields Police Chief ACP Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said police carried out the raid at about 9.20pm since the massage parlour also offered prostitution services.

"During the raid, we found condoms and other equipment in the premises that were used for sexual activities and we also detained two local men who are believed to be customers, for questioning," he told Bernama when contacted on Tuesday.

He added that all suspects who were between 20 and 30 years-old, would be remanded for further investigations. -- BERNAMA

Civil Servants Hoping For Bonus Before Raya

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Civil servants are hoping for bonus payment from the government before Hari Raya Puasa although the 2010 Budget will only be tabled on Oct 23.

Some civil servants are already appealing to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak through his 1Malaysia website for the government to give bonus.

Website visitor Mayau Sarikei from Sarawak said each year, he and his wife would need to spend a bit more in preparation for Aidilfitri.

"However, this time my wife and I will have to cut down on our Raya expenditure as the 2010 Budget will only be tabled in October.

"This means, the government may not be able to make a bonus allocation for civil servants.

"Therefore, I hope YAB Datuk Seri (Najib) will find a way to give us Raya bonus to enable us to prepare for the Raya celebration," he said.

His appeal was supported by several individuals who only referred to themselves as "penjawat awam" (civil servants), saying that the sudden increase in the price of daily essentials was a worrying burden for them.

"Without the bonus, it is difficult for us civil servants to prepare for Hari Raya," said one of the "penjawat awam".

This person hoped that Najib, who is also Finance Minister, would favourably consider their request and give a bonus of at least RM1,000 to each civil servant, to be paid in two instalments -- before Raya and in mid-December.

Another of the website's visitor, Jayiddin Simon, suggested that the government abolish the driving licence fee to lessen the people's financial burden. -- BERNAMA

2,764 Sarawak Companies In Manpower Survey

KUCHING, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- The Human Resources Ministry has picked 2,764 Sarawak companies for a National Manpower Survey 2009, the outcome of which will be used by the government to formulate and legislate policies in line with the state's manpower requirements.

It said in a statement that the companies would be required to complete and return the National Employment Returns to the director of the Sarawak Labour Department, which has been entrusted with carrying out the survey, as provided for under Section 60 of Labour Ordinance.

The ministry said the forms were being distributed by temporary administrative staff appointed by the department, and employers were required to complete and return them within 30 days from the date stated on the forms.

For enquiries and details, the companies can contact the department's offices at 082-247349 (Kuching), 083-322527 (Sri Aman), 084-651242 (Sarikei), 084-330700 (Sibu), 084-796430 (Kapit), 086-337625 (Bintulu), 019-8595286 (Bakun), 085-419949 (Miri), 085-755693 (Marudi) or 085-211228 (Limbang), it said. -- BERNAMA