KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — The creation of more jobs and better economic opportunities for people in Asean countries can be key to addressing the human trafficking and migrant issues in the region, said Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee.

Kiandee, who is Malaysia’s head of delegation to the 36th Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) general assembly, said that although the problem of human trafficking was not as serious as in Europe, it is a worrying concern to be arrested.

Referring to the recent discovery of mass graves of trafficked persons in Perlis, he said the careless “importing” of migrants and then recklessly killing them “stands for a decadent society”.

He said the porous borders among Asean countries are also an inducement for migrants searching for their ultimate El Dorado.

“Perhaps we Parliamentarians can persuade our respective governments to create more job opportunities and give equal opportunities to these jobs.

“This will to a certain extent prevent migrants from making arduous, risky and dangerous journeys in search of a better life, to feed their families back home, in particular, their children,” he said in the country statement here today.

Meanwhile, Speaker of Brunei Darussalam Legistative Council Pehin Datuk Abdul Rahman Taib said Asean countries should strengthen cooperation with the Asean Community pillars to achieve a drug-free Asean by the end of this year.

“Towards this end, we should urgently operationalise the Technical Working Group that was formed three years ago,” he said. — Bernama

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/more-jobs-in-asean-key-to-reducing-human-trafficking-says-deputy-speaker#sthash.uh1fbmmm.dpuf