ALOR SETAR: Two years after 106 bodies of human trafficking victims were exhumed in Wang Kelian, Perlis, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisation (Mapim) has expressed its dismay that only four people were charged in court over the matter.
Its president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid said more could be done by the authorities as he believed those charged in court could be just the ikan bilis (small fry).
“The authorities should go after the big fish as some of the trafficked victims had furnished the authorities with details about who were involved.
“We hope to have a dialogue session with the Federal Government and all the relevant agencies, including the Prime Minister, as we want to know what they have done to keep such incidents in check,” he said.
Mohd Azmi was speaking to reporters during the Wang Kelian second anniversary memorial where prayers were held for the 106 human trafficking victims who were buried in a plot at Kampung Tualang, Pokok Sena, about a 30-minute drive from here.
In Ops Wawasan Khas conducted from May 11 to 23 in 2015, police found 139 graves scattered around 28 transit camps abandoned by a human trafficking syndicate in Wang Burma hill and Wang Perah hill at the Malaysia-Thailand border.
The victims were believed to be Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladeshis. They were suspected to have died of abuse or malnourishment.
The memorial was held by Mapim and Penang Stop Human Trafficking Campaign, and attended by representatives of NGOs.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/05/22/those-charged-likely-just-small-fry-ngo-police-should-go-after-the-big-fish-involved-in-wang-kelian/#JVU7XHXeTGijh9Y8.99
