Making the call Tuesday, Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports, Datuk Jahid Jahim said there is a provision for this in the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007 (ACT 670).

"I appeal to all stakeholders - individuals, society, employers, employment agencies, worker agents, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and enforcement agencies such as the police, Immigration and Customs Departments and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency - to co-operate in addressing this critical issue," he said when officiating at the inaugural Awareness Workshop on Indonesia-Malaysia Cross-Border Counter-Trafficking Project 2008-2009.

And given that the southeastern coast of Sabah serves as an entry-point for immigrants from neighbouring countries, Jahid, who is Tamparuli Assemblyman, suggested that the workshop propose a monitoring body to assist the State Government in preventing and combating human trafficking activity, especially from those countries.

At the same time, he is in favour of enhancing co-operation among nations in this respect. "We need to intensify a two-way exchange of information and visits to understand the modus operandi of trafficking perpetrators."

Jahid said the effectiveness of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007 (ACT 670) depends on the level of awareness, response and co-operation from all stakeholders. "Waging a war against this crime to eradicate human trafficking in the long run is a collective responsibility."

Article 3 of the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children defines trafficking in persons as:

The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.

Quoting sources, Jahid said human trafficking in the world today can fetch US$32 billion per year.

"It has evolved into an international crime in the 21st century, one that is most lucrative, apart from drug trafficking and gun trafficking."

Some 70 people comprising police personnel, senior government officials, community leaders, leaders of religious bodies, NGO leaders and members of the civil society are attending the two-day workshop at the Likas Square Condotel here.

Jahid said the concerted effort made by International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), Archdiocesan Human Development Committee (AHDC) Kota Kinabalu and Tenaganita to create awareness among society in Sabah was a positive step and should be hailed and supported by all parties concerned.

"I believe a lot of people in Sabah are not aware of the existence of this Act."

Also present were Konsul Muda Indonesia Bapak Umbora Setiawan, Deputy Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Community Development & Consumer Affairs, Janet Chee, Customs Department NGO representative Hj Wasimin Daiman, Regional Police Attache Yves Godiveau from the Embassy of France in Singapore, ICMC Safe Migration Program Senior Manager Abhijit Dasgupta from Jakarta and Tenaganita Anti-Trafficking in Persons Project Program Officer Paulus Gani from Sabah.