My second of three urgent motions for Parliament this week was rejected by the Deputy Speaker Datuk Lim Si Cheng this morning.
My motion to urgently debate Malaysia’s inclusion in the United States Government’s 2007 Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Report in the Tier 3 list of the worst human trafficking offenders together with 15 other nations including Burma, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Sudan and Saudi Arabia.was rejected on the ground that it was not urgent.
Most shocking of all, the rejection was received with table-thumping by Barisan Nasional MPs as if they were overjoyed that Parliament is denied an opportunity to clear Malaysia’s good name which had been stained internationally by the shameful listing of the country mong the worst human trafficking offenders.
When Dewan Rakyat debated the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill on May 9, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, who piloted the bill through Parliament, referred to Malaysia’s being ranked as Tier 2 Watch List in the US Government’s 2006 TIP Report released in June last year.
Nazri did not condemn or challenge the right of the US Government to issue any TIP Report.
In January 2007, the US Government issued a Trafficking in Persons Interim Assessment “to serve as a tool by which to gauge the anti-trafficking progress of countries which may be in danger of slipping a tier in the upcoming June 2007 TIP Report and to give them guidance on how to avoid a Tier 3 ranking”.
Yet, despite the TIP Interim Assessment and guidance, Malaysia fell into Tier 3 ranking in the TIP 2007 report.
The Malaysian government is not bounden to justify its record to the US Government but it is duty-bound to vindicate its record to Parliament and the Malaysian people.
A Parliamentary debate would have furnished the government an opportunity to clear its name and vindicate its record on this matter — but the government seems to be afraid to make full use of this opportunity provided by the DAP. Why?
#1 by Utopia on Wednesday, 20 June 2007 - 4:01 pm
UMNO say free publicity is always welcome! Malaysia Boleh masuk Tier 3! Let’s celebrate!
#2 by lakshy on Wednesday, 20 June 2007 - 4:39 pm
Because if you dig deep enough, all the smut will probably come out. Ease in getting IC’s in Sabah, vice etc etc etc. Perhaps even JI activity and drug traficking may come out. Dont know whether illegal logging will come out and movement of illegal logs through malaysia with the help of close-one-eye type of people.
And then as the next step after Tier 3 classification, Malaysia could have sanctions imposed as the next stage. So its better not to do anything!
We have enough clowns in parliament and the cabinet who can open their mouths and park both their feet in it. So better keep quiet. Otherwise someones mouth “bocor”!
#3 by shortie kiasu on Wednesday, 20 June 2007 - 8:57 pm
The government and PM want to sweep it under the carpet after denying it vociferously without knowing what they are talking.
#4 by undergrad2 on Wednesday, 20 June 2007 - 10:36 pm
“A Parliamentary debate would have furnished the government an opportunity to clear its name and vindicate its record on this matter – but the government seems to be afraid to make full use of this opportunity provided by the DAP. Why?”
The reason is obvious.
#5 by Alvin on Wednesday, 20 June 2007 - 11:05 pm
when your parliment or rather our parliment have ‘Progress’ to become a 3rd World parliment, what can we expect of those so called elected representatives.
i can only say that thier conscience shall haunt them if they still have some sanity left in them.
applauding a degradation called by another foreign party is just an unbelievable act that can happen only in Boleh-land.
utter shame on all those who only knows how to thump tables irrespective of what is being motion before them.
#6 by mendela on Thursday, 21 June 2007 - 12:59 am
The USA is Malaysia’s biggest export market. Every year many Malaysia business men, engineers, quality control people, etc. need to visit the clients in USA or participate in exhibitions.
With Tier-3 grade given to Malaysia, all the travelling procedures like USA visa application will be make more difficult for all Malaysians.
Malaysian goods and services might find it more difficult to get to the USA too.
Is the UMO-led Government understood clearly the potential reperccusions to Malaysian economy from such tier-3 grading?
#7 by HJ Angus on Thursday, 21 June 2007 - 11:39 am
Parliament has long abdicated its role as the guardian of the people’s interests.
Now Parliament only serves the vested interests of the ruling elite and debate on most bills can be described as basically superficial.
Unless the government wants to discuss the matter,all motions are taboo especially if it is proposed by the Opposition.
Now we are on the watch list for human trafficking; in a few years don’t be surprised if we also get blacklisted for human rights abuse as we imprison more people who want the right of freedom of religious choice.