KUALA LUMPUR: The protection of Malaysians working abroad is subject to and protected by labor and human rights laws, including human trafficking in the country concerned, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Monday (Nov 18).

Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin said Malaysian labor laws or any laws in this country do not apply in foreign countries.

“Indeed, the Madani Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Malaysian Diplomatic Mission is always ready to provide appropriate consular assistance to Malaysians who encounter problems or difficulties abroad.

“We also advise Malaysians to hold valid travel documents such as passports and visas and not hand over these documents to any party easily,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat’s Special House session.

He was responding to the motion by Wong Chen (PH-Subang) on ​​measures to protect Malaysians who are victims of trafficking abroad.

Wong, in his motion, raised the issue of Malaysian Mala Vello, 57, who was said to be a victim of human trafficking in Nepal and whose passport had been confiscated since 2012 after he married a man who is a citizen.

The mala was then successfully brought back to this country in August.

Mohamad said the responsibility to identify whether or not a person is a victim of human trafficking rests with local authorities and interpretation under Nepalese law.

He said this means Nepali authorities will determine whether a case is a human trafficking offense or not based on the provisions of existing laws applicable in Nepal and not on Malaysia’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act. (Atipsom).- Bernama