PUTRAJAYA will upgrade all 151 General Operations Forces (PGA) posts at the country’s borders to curb human trafficking that has become rampant, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.

“PGA posts will block all smuggling activities. RM45 million is the budget we need and are optimistic that we will get it so that we can manage the posts in the near future,” he said at a press conference at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Kuala Lumpur today.

“Cross-border crime, rat routes, smuggling of weapons, drugs and contraband essential goods such as cooking oil can be blocked through the use of these posts.

“The physical condition of most of the posts are in poor condition.

“With the allocation, we will repair or build new posts, to be more comfortable and conducive for members on duty,” he said.

Last week, Malaysia climbed to the Tier 2 Watchlist of the US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report for 2023, with US authorities saying Malaysia has not met the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts.

In its latest 2023 report, Malaysia falls among other Southeast Asian countries like Brunei and Vietnam, and many other African countries in the Tier 2 watchlist.

Last year, Malaysia was on Tier 3, deemed as not making enough effort to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling crimes with anti-trafficking investigations declining and fewer prosecutions of government officials allegedly involved in such crimes.

Malaysia has been in Tier 3 for two years since 2021. It was on the Tier 2 Watch List from 2017 to 2020. –  June 22, 2023.