A new law in Malaysia would force women who travel abroad to carry letters from parents or employers to prove that they are traveling for legitimate business and not working as “mules”. From the AFP: The proposal comes as 119 Malaysians, 90 per cent of whom are women, have been imprisoned worldwide on drug-related charges with the [...]

Source: Wichayant Boonchote, “Smuggling of fuel from Malaysia on the increase,” Bangkok Post, May 1, 2008.

55 business were raided by Malaysian authorities in 2007 for using pirated software, the highest ever number of raids conducted. A total of RM 4.5 million ($138 Million) of pirated software and equipment were seized during those raids. Source: “Bumper year for antipiracy raiders,” The Star, December 25, 2007,(accessed: January 14, 2008).

Source:  European Union, “2006 customs seizures of counterfeit goods - Frequently Asked Questions,” Press Release, May 31, 2007,(accessed: June 18, 2007).

Around 5 million pirated movie and music discs were seized in Malaysia in 2006, with 780 people being arrested. Source: Enlai Yeoh, Associated Press, ” Dogs used to tackle movie, music piracy,” The Wichita Eagle, March 13, 2007.

19,369 people were identified by the government as drug addicts through the first ten months of 2006. Source: 2007 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, “Southeast Asia: Malaysia,” United States Department of State, March 2007.

The International Herald Tribune highlights the plight of illegal immigrants in Malaysia.  About 1.5 million illegal immigrants are living in Malaysia and face harsh treatment from a volunteer force of immigration enforcement. After being arrested, the illegal immigrants are deported into the hands of traffickers, according to the report. According to the accounts of a dozen migrants [...]