Deputy Minister Rules Out Human Trafficking Link To Myanmar Murders

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- Home Deputy Minister Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar dismissed claims that several murder cases involving Myanmar nationals were linked to human trafficking syndicates. Instead, he said (police investigations revealed) that most cases were fuelled by disputes, revenge, crime, business or drug networks among immigrants from Myanmar. "Actually, there is no link to human trafficking, but it is due to conflicts involving Myanmars in their own community," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here Wednesday. Wan Junaidi was commenting on the growing number of murders involving Myanmar nationals, including in Penang where nine Myanmars were charged in a magistrate's court over the slaying of their compatriots last year. Meanwhile, Wan Junaidi said the ministery would be tabling the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill to counter foreign fighters during this sitting as an effort to prevent foreign fighters from using Malaysia as a transit point. "We hope to table this bill, together with the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) to address the threat from terrorists," he added. -- BERNAMA