<P>Malaysia, Australia work together to combat human trafficking
July 22 2011

<P>The Malaysian Home Ministry and the Australian government are to sign an agreement soon on the relocation of migrants, Malaysian Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said.

<P>He said the agreement was aimed at preventing and eradicating cross-border crime in human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, which were regarded as serious, the Malaysian media reported.

<P>"In this context, Australia will send 800 people to Malaysia while Malaysia will send to Australia 4,000 refugees recognised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees," he told the reporters.

<P>He said the Home Ministry would investigate and identify the status of the 800 people who would be accepted into the country to determine if they were victims of human trafficking or illegal immigrants.

<P>If they were victims of human trafficking they would be given protection as had been gazatted, he said.

<P>He said that if they were identified as illegal immigrants they would be detained and deported to their countries of origin or referred to their respective diplomatic representatives.

<P>Meanwhile, Abu Seman said a total of 510 suspects were detained by enforcement agencies as of June this year under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.