Safety and welfare of a whistleblower under the witness protection programme is assured
BANGI: THE public should not fear reporting the whereabouts of people who are being trafficked or smuggled to the authorities as they are protected under the Witness Protection Act 2009.
The Attorney-General's Chambers (prosecution division) deputy public prosecutor Nur Izzaini Ishak said when a person becomes a witness under the witness protection programme, his safety and welfare were taken care of.
"They are protected under the law -- the Witness Protection Act 2009 and Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 -- which provide measures for their safety and welfare.
"By being the eyes and ears to enforcement agencies, you can help in efforts to curb human trafficking and smuggling," she said at a seminar on Trafficking Persons and Smuggling of Migrants at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia yesterday.
Under Section 13 (2) of the Witness Protection Act, a witness may be provided with accommodation, relocation, a new identity, remuneration, access to education and living expenses.
Police Anti-trafficking in Person Unit head at Bukit Aman, Assistant Superintendent of Police Hadzwan Zulkefle said if the public felt uncomfortable about informing the police, they could inform the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Mapo).
Mapo comprises enforcement agencies such as the police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Immigration Department and Labour Department, and government agencies that include the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and Human Resources Ministry.
Those who have information or complaints regarding trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, can call Mapo at 999 or visit them at the "Against Human Trafficking & Smuggling of Migrants" Facebook site.
2012 Bar Council Subscription Click the link above to download Circular 072/2012 pertaining to the 2012 Bar Council subscription, including the payment guide and a set of Frequently-Asked-Questions.
2012 Hotel Corporate Rates Attending seminars? Going for a holiday? Click on the link above to check out the list of hotel corporate rates for Members of the Bar, which is updated regularly.
Bar Council Bookshop Read MORE … but pay LE$$! Members enjoy a 20% discount on LexisNexis publications at the Bar Council Bookshop. Click on the link above for the list of available titles.
International Malaysia Law Conference (26 to 28 Sept 2012) Hurry up! The countdown continues and the current promotion rate ends 30 June 2012. Don't miss what is going to be the best conference in the region! On top of that, if you sign up with 5 or more people from the same organisation, we will give you a 10% group discount. Click on the link above to register.
Talk on Summary Judgement (25 May 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, this talk will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). The talk will be conducted by Ramesh Supramanian. Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on Tax Issues in Financial Transactions (25 May 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar, featuring S Saravana Kumar, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Dialogue with Criminal Law Practitioners (26 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council, this dialogue will take place at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, at the Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 26 May 2012 (Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
Conference on Competition Law (31 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council with the support of LexisNexis, this conference will take place at 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, at Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, on 31 May 2012 (Thursday). For more details or to register, please contact Vilashini Vijayan (03-2050 2095; vila@malaysianbar.org.my). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on What Clients Want (7 June 2012) Organised by the KL Bar Practitioners' Affairs Committee, the talk, presented by Ong Eu Jin, will take place at 5:00 pm, at the KL Bar Auditorium, on 7 June 2012 (Thursday). Click on the link above for more details.
4th LAWASIA Family Law Conference, Penang (13 and 14 July 2012) Supported by Penang Bar Committee and the Malaysian Bar, this conference, themed “The New Global Family: Emerging Trends and Challenges to Family Practice”, will take place at Traders Hotel, Penang, on 13 and 14 July 2012 (Friday and Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
News 
©The New Straits Times (Used by permission)
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Circular No 109/2012: Be a Part of the Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee
