Malaysia Launches National Anti-Trafficking in Persons Action Plan

Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin said the government wanted to launch the Five-Year National Anti-Trafficking in Persons Action Plan to show the international community of Malaysia's determination to combat human trafficking activities and to eliminate Malaysia's negative image as a transit point for international human trafficking activities.

Curbing Human Trafficking Activities
He said that a cross ministerial National Anti-Trafficking in Persons Council led by the Home Affairs Ministry has been formed to carry out a five-year action plan to curb human trafficking activities in the country. This National Anti-Trafficking in Persons Council and the five-year antihuman trafficking action plan were launched on 31 March to seriously combat and eliminate all kinds of human trafficking activities in Malaysia.

Home Affairs Minister Hishammuddin also disclosed that when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib visits the United States in April, Najib would also meet with the relevant authority in the US Government in Washington, DC to discuss how Malaysia could help to curb this global human trafficking problem. Hishammuddin said that Malaysia would use all available resources to prevent trafficking in persons activities to happen in the region.

Nine Strategic Goals
The national action plan against human trafficking includes nine strategic goals and nine implementation plan, and a comprehensive summary of all areas of combat operations against trafficking in persons. The government will periodically review the plan from time to time to ensure that all officials tasked with the jobs can effectively perform their duties.

The National Anti-Trafficking in Persons Action Plan includes the following nine strategic objectives:
1. To strengthen laws to enhance the power of the anti-human trafficking enforcement authority.

2. To implement coordination and cooperation of the various law enforcement agencies.

3. To raise public awareness on trafficking in persons activities through education programs.

4. To work with non-governmental organizations and provide victims with protection complied with international standards.

5. To combat foreign labor trafficking activities.

6. To provide training for government officials who participate in the implementation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2007.

7. To enhance anti-trafficking information management in government departments.

8. To establish local and international anti-trafficking in persons partnerships.

9. To strengthen law enforcement on trafficking in persons.

Hong Kong Maintains Close Economic Ties With US

Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah said that since 1983 Hong Kong began to establish currency exchange system pegged with the US currency. Although such currency peg has gone through ups and downs in the past 27 years, Hong Kong has maintained good economic relationship with the United States. He said Hong Kong has no intention to change the present currency exchange system to follow China's monetary policy.'

Tsang said this in response to a question if it would be possible for Hong and China to implement the same monetary system. He said that Hong Kong's per capita income was more than $30,000. He added that in term of economic development, Hong Kong and the United States have maintained very close relationship. As such Hong Kong has no intention to change its monetary exchange rate pegging system with the United States.

Tsang Chun-wah said that although China's Renmibi (RMB) was an important currency, it was not an easily convertible currency. This was an area Hong Kong was currently trying to assist China.

Some places in Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries also allow the use of RMB as trading currency. It is hoped that Hong Kong can become such a platform and base for RMB to rise and continue to grow strong.

Establishing Two Financial Centers
Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah opined that since China has a population of 1.3 billion people, having Hong Kong and Shanghai as its two financial centers were not many. China can have two financial centers.

On primary and secondary industries, China has already grown very strong. China is now working on third tier of industries. This should be the economic growth engine to push China's economy further ahead.

Learning From Malaysia on Islamic Finance Development
Tsang said that Malaysia's experience in Islamic financial sector and in Islamic investment as well as in public education for it were very successful. As such, one of the main reasons he visited Malaysia was to learn from Malaysia in these areas. He said that at this moment, for Hong Kong to develop the Islamic financial sector, the most important thing is to enhance public education and promotion about it and to allow more market participants to understand that the Islamic financial sector was not only for Muslims to participate only. It was a financial field that all interested investors could join and participate.

When Tsang Chun-wah accepted a joint interview with the Malaysian media, he said that Hong Kong's Muslim population was not much. But Hong Kong has a robust financial structure. Hong Kong could become a regional platform, in particularly a platform for China to participate in Islamic finance and service.

In addition, Tsang also said that the purpose of his visit to Malaysia was also to see if the bi-lateral cooperation between Hong Kong and Malaysia could further be advanced in certain direction or to develop cooperation model. He said while he hoped his visit could promote bi-lateral economic relationship between Hong and China, he also wanted to learn from Malaysia's success economic stories.

He said that when he met and talked to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib earlier, he gained many constructive views. He believed this would help to make the bilateral economic growth and cooperation between Hong Kong and Malaysia to move forward.

Country's NKRA Measure
Hong Kong Financial Secretary Tsang Chun-wah said that in order for Hong Kong to maintain healthy economic development, Hong Kong has identified six priority areas in order to diversify Hong Kong's economic base and create employment opportunities. He said Hong Kong's priority measures and Malaysian Government's measures to identify National Key Result Areas (NKRA) were quite similar in essence.

He said that the six priority areas identified by the Hong Kong Government included education services, pharmaceutical services, laboratory certification, innovation and technology, environmental industries as well as cultural and creative industries.

When Tsang Chun-wah presented his keynote address at a public forum themed as "New Economic Order in Post Global Financial Crisis Era, he said: "The top priority area concept carried out by Hong Kong holds many common grounds as Malaysia's National Key Result Area policy. Through such comparison, I can see many opportunities for cooperation between Hong Kong and Malaysia. Such cooperation opportunities can help us to achieve our common goal. We should try to create these opportunities. "

Chinese Business Community Must Help To Push Economic Growth Forward

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib called for Chinese Malaysian entrepreneurs to increase investment in China. He also called for the Chinese Malaysian business community to strengthen cooperation with the government-linked corporations and bumiputera (indigenous Malay) companies. He also appealed the Chinese Malaysian business community to assist the Government to bring in new investment from China to boost economic growth.

Prime Minister Najib said he was not happy that Malaysia only achieved 4.5 percent economic growth during the last quarter of 2009. He stressed the need for all people to adhere to the "1Malaysia" spirit and fight for economic growth. He said Malaysia's economic growth rate for this year should be able to reach 6 percent.

Prime Minister Najib hoped that the Chinese Malaysian businesses and enterprises could increase domestic investment this year and develop new business opportunities. He said the Government would do everything possible to provide assistance, including looking for opportunities, and strengthening the business cooperation between Chinese Malaysian businesses and the government-linked companies and bumiputera companies along such development.

Effort to Target $2 Billion Investment from China
When Prime Minister Najib presented his address at the Lunar New Year celebration dinner hosted by the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM), he praised the Chinese Malaysian business community in making effort to bring US$2 billion investment from China to Malaysia in 2010. Najib hoped that after Malaysian and Chinese national leaders paid mutual visit to each other's country last year, the private sector should continue to take the lead to promote Malaysia-China bilateral economic ties and development.

Najib also said that since this Lunar New Year is Year of the Tiger, all sectors should be united as one under the "1Malaysia" concept of solidarity, especially in the economic field and play the mighty tiger spirit, rather than acting like a circus tiger. He said that in order to cope with economic globalization trend, Malaysia must accelerate economic reform to face globalization challenge and competition.

He said all businesses must have the courage to meet new business challenges. He also stressed that Malaysian businesses could no longer continue to use the traditional method to do business. Najib said the Government would provide assistance to the businesses that made their investment in Malaysia.

MCA To End Conflict Soonest
Of note was that before the end of Najib's address at the dinner function, Najib suddenly reminded the audience that if they faced problem they should find solution to resolve the problem as soon as possible. He jokingly added: "I am not pointing my remarks at any political party." Najib's remarks turned laughter from the floor.

He stressed: "If you have to resolve problems, go ahead and resolve them! The Malaysian Chinese community needs your leadership." Although Najib stressed that his remarks was not directed at any particular political party, all audience knew he was referring to the Malaysian Chinese Association's (MCA) party conflict.

MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, Vice President Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen, vice president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, vice president Datuk Seri Kong Chok Han, and MCA Youth Chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong were all at this dinner event hosted by ACCCIM when Najib made the remark. It was a rare occasion for all MCA leaders of different political fractions to attend the same dinner function since the MCA leadership struggle for power began in 2009.

First Lady's Role in US, Malaysia

What is the role of a First Lady? The answer is simple: Nothing. When the women of these husbands reach the peak of their political power, there is an unwritten rule for these women. This unwritten rule for the First Lady is for her to become the shadow behind her husband and to support him silently from behind. As the Chinese saying goes: "It is difficult for a person to live a wholesome life; it is more difficult for women to live a wholesome life; it is most difficult for the wife of a president to live a wholesome life."

First Lady does not have a public position. In general the role of the First Lady is to organize receptions and dinners at official residence and to accompany her husband on state visits to other countries, or to attend various charitable activities. However in the United States, it is a bit different. When the United States first created the term First Lady in 1890, the requirement of the First Lady was to be a model wife and a model mother so that she could be a good model for the society.

Situation in Europe
The situation in Europe is not very different from that of the United States. The wife of the head of state will usually involve in areas such as cultural, charitable and cooperation development only. The public's eyes are sharp and critical towards the wives of state heads. When French President Nicolas Sarkozy's former wife Cecilia succeeded to urge Libra to release five Bulgarian nurses in July 2007, a Socialist Party MP questioned the legality of the move by the President's wife. The media also demanded President Nicolas Sarkozy to explain.

During certain period in the past, Michelle Obama earned even more money than her husband Obama. But after husband became the US President, Michelle Obama, the First Lady with a doctoral degree in law has lived her life as the hostess of the White House with cautious heart. Michelle Obama learned fast that the media love to ask her many sensitive issues. In addition, the media also love to use magnifying glass to view her every move to the extent that even her wearing of shorts during vacations has also resulted in criticism.

During Obama's campaign period, Mitchelle Obama said, "This is the first time in my life I love America so much." Her words were caught by Barack Obama's political rivals and they said the Obama couple was unpatriotic extreme liberal. These few words of Michelle Obama almost destroyed the Barack Obama's political future.

Ambition and Confidence
Nevertheless, after more than a year of trials and errors, Mitchelle Obama, a woman with advanced and modern thought, has finally transformed into a First Lady who has learned to talk less. For example on sensitive women issue of abortion, she would not want to give comment. She learned fast that by distancing herself from politics is as good as adding less trouble to her husband. This is the best help she could give her husband.

It seems to us that the White House hostess Michelle Obama is now spending more time with her two daughters, controlling their lunch boxes and solving their childhood obesity in addition to opening up a vegetable garden at the White House backyard teaching pupils to grow vegetables or raise bees.

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib's wife Rosmah has just denied her "interference in domestic affairs" accusation. However, although Rosmah has neither the brain, capability of Mitchell Obama nor French President Nicolas Sarkozy's former wife Cecilia's boldness and daring to dare, Rosmah does have her ambition and confidence higher than anybody else. Rosmah said she wanted to stop taking the role as a "flower vase." She said she wanted to take advantage of her networking skills and make connection with First Lady in other countries to do something big and formal for their nations.

Independent Opinion
We trust all the sisters in the First Lady circle would love to hear Prime Minister Najib's wife's great ambition. However, the fact remains that majority of world nations are still revered to patriarchal system.

When the people in advanced countries such as the United States and France cannot tolerate their First Lady to have independent opinion, action and thought, how can we Malaysians expect Rosmah, wife of Prime Minister Najib, to have different thought or official action different from her husband? For a First Lady to be able to share half the sky of the nation with her husband, she may have to wait until the sea dries up.

Malaysia, China Expand Bilateral Trade Ties

Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Liu Jian said that the Malaysia-China relations in recent years have indeed entered a best period in the diplomatic history of both nations. He added that after the mutual visits by the two national leaders to each other's country, the bilateral ties between Malaysia and China have turned even better.

Therefore, both nations should take such opportunity to follow through and create more favorable conditions for both nations to push the bilateral exchange and cooperation in the economic, cultural and other fields to a new high.In accepting Nanyang Siang Pau's exclusive interview, Ambassador Liu Jian said that in this New Year, the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia would focus on coming out with programs to advance the friendly bilateral ties between the two countries.

The first item on Ambassador Liu's to-do list is in the expansion of trade and related investment between the two nations. The Chinese envoy said that in 2009, the Malaysia-China bi-lateral trade volume has reach $50 billion (about M$ 170.1 billion ringgit). This bilateral trade volume accounted for China's one-fourths trade volume with ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations). It was a heavy percentage.

Economic and Trade Supplement
Ambassador Liu said that on economic and trade, Malaysia and China could supplement each other's need. Both nations could promote the diversification of trade and deepen economic and trade exchanges. He disclosed that at this juncture, when more and more Chinese enterprises were keen to "explore the outside world", the Chinese authorities would continue to encourage large Chinese enterprises to invest in Malaysia. He said that at present stage, many Chinese provincial and municipal leaders have already begun to promote work in this area. At the same time, China also welcomed Malaysian companies to continue their investment in China. When Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib made his first official visit to China in his capacity as the Prime Minister in June 2009, both countries have agreed on three agreements and one memorandum of understanding. Ambassador Liu Jian was one of the backstage contributors toward cementing these agreements between the two countries.
The first important agreement signed between Malaysia and China as witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao was the "Malaysia-China Joint Action Plan on Strategic Cooperation." The second agreement was the "Abolition of Visa Agreement" which covers regulations on the travel of holders of diplomatic and official or service passports. These personnel will no longer be required to get visas for travel to China or Malaysia. The third document signed between the two countries was the "Marine Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement." The memorandum of understanding signed was the" Malaysia-China Postal Cooperation MoU (Memorandum of Understanding)."

Strong Business Opponent
Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Liu Jian opined that Malaysian businesses should not hold the concern that once the ASEAN-China Free Trade Zone was fully implemented, Malaysia's domestic enterprises could not face the strong competitors coming from China and that it the process the Malaysian enterprises would be "swallowed" by the Chinese enterprises. He added that all nations should look at the bigger picture and the overall situation of the Free Trade Area Agreement and avoid "losing the big issues just because we focus on smaller ones."
The Chinese envoy said that it was based on common interest that China and ASEAN countries worked to achieve this ASEAN-China Free Trade Area. He said China and ASEAN countries have spent ten years to prepare for the free trade area. He added that the reduction of tariffs between China and ASEAN would be done year by year gradually.
Therefore, the implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area would not bring much economic and trade impact to all countries concerned. Ambassador Liu said, "The full implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area will be carried out in two stages. The first stage of implementation is between China and the few founding members of ASEAN. By 2015, the full ASEAN-China Free Trade Area will then be expanded to cover all the newer ASEAN nations." This was what Ambassador Liu Jian said when he accepted the interview with Nanyang Siang Pau.
When asked to comment on the dilemma faced by the Malaysian SMEs (Small and Medium Size Enterprises) as the direct result of the implementation of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area agreement in Malaysia, Ambassador Liu Jian said that if what the Malaysian enterprises produced were similar to the products of what the Chinese enterprises came out, it was quite normal for Malaysian enterprises to have such concern and fear. However, he added that we should all look at the overall situation and should not allow the smaller issues to block out the bigger issues as well as the bi-lateral trade benefits in the long run.
Setting Up Bank's Branch When asked to comment on the internationalization of Chinese currency Renminbi (RMB), Ambassador Liu Jian that it would be a long process to get it done. First of all, China must begin with carrying out such process with neighboring countries surrounding China. He also hoped that after the establishment of Bank of China in Malaysia, the Industrial and Commerce Bank of China could also open a branch in Malaysia as planned.
He hoped that the setting up of this second Chinese bank in Malaysia could be materialized within this year. He commented that on the setting up of this second bank in Malaysia as far as China was concerned everything was ready. He believed there should not be any procedural problem on this.

Closer Cooperation in Education
Ambassador Liu Jian hoped that in this New Year, the educational cooperation between Malaysia and China could move closer. He said that there were about one million Chinese students studying in Malaysia. There were also about 2,000 Malaysian students doing their courses in China. He said the number of Chinese and Malaysian students pursuing courses in each other's county respectively were on the increase.
Ambassador Liu Jian stressed that the mutual recognition of university degrees from both nations would require the joint efforts of two nations. He suggested that the governments and local community from both countries should encourage and assist Malaysian students and Chinese students to study in each other's country, including the provision of scholarships to the students concerned.The US envoy to Malaysia was happy to note that a Confucius Institute has already been established at the University of Malaya. He hoped that more Confucius Institute could be established in other Malaysian universities so that Chinese language teaching and learning could be provided to more Malaysian students for them to understand the Chinese culture.On the development of bi-lateral tourism, Ambassador Liu Jian said that Chinese was in the process to expand its tourism market and domestic demand for it. He expected China would soon have a vigorous tourism development and that would also encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Malaysia.

Goals To Become Advanced Nations
US Ambassador to Malaysia Liu Jian described the ASEAN -China Free Trade Area as a very important first step for China and ASEAN countries to implement. He said that through this Free Trade Area agreement, "Asian power" could be enhanced. He said that through this Free Trade Area, Malaysia, China, and other ASEAN countries could have an additional economic development channel to strengthen respective trade.
He said that when we added 10 ASEAN countries plus China together, the total market has a potential market for 1.9 billion people. Therefore, the potential market development toward that direction was very huge. It could become one of the world new economies comparable to the European Union and the North American economic bloc.
Ambassador Liu Jian opined that the implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area would enable the trade between Malaysia and China to further expand. It would also create new cooperation opportunities between the two nations in agriculture and other sectors.
Ambassador Liu Jian said that China should enter the well-off society by 2020; Malaysia also has its Vision 2020 goal to become a developed nation. Therefore, it could be said that Malaysia and China share similar goal to become advanced countries. He said the two nations should further explore new cooperation points and opportunities to face a brighter future ahead of Malaysia and China.

Judicial Fairness in Malaysia

Following the protests by a US Senator and a group of Australian Member of Parliament over opposition party leader Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anita stressed that Malaysia has a fair judiciary system. He added that it was not appropriate for foreigners to interfere with a count case that is going on.
Minister Datuk Seri Anifah said this with reference to US Senator John Kerry's appeal that the Malaysian government should make sure Anwar Ibrahim could receive fair trial in the sodomy charge. The US Senator stressed that it was only under an un-interfered circumstances that the judiciary could effectively ensure judiciary fairness and impartiality.

Protecting Interest of All Parties
The Senator said: "In order for a court case to uphold the spirit of law as well as protecting the interest of all parties involved, the best solution is to avoid any unrelated government officials and any outsiders trying to disturb and interfere with a count case that is stilling going on."
In a statement, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said that Malaysia was committed to upholding the rule of law, and that Malaysia's judiciary was operated according to the standards of any fully developed country. He said: "Our system honors and respects the independence of our courts to find facts and to apply the law impartially." All citizens should avoid seeking to inflame or prejudice the outcome of any legal proceeding public servants in particular have the obligation to avoid politicizing any trial."

External Pressures
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah added that in a case involving a prominent person such as Anwar Ibrahim, it was important that external pressures be avoided so that each party had the opportunity to present its case to an impartial and unbiased judge."
"Our system has the obligation to proceed with this trial, not because the accused is a prominent political figure, but because it has the responsibility to protect all Ma­­laysians under the law, to seek justice and to avoid any form of prejudice regarding any of the parties involved in a trial," he added.
On 17 February, John Kerry, who is chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had come out with a statement to express his concern about Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial. He urged Malaysian Government especially Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib to ensure a fair and equitable resolution of the legal proceedings currently underway against Anwar Ibrahim.