The Home Ministry has set up a special hotline for reports on human trafficking and smuggling of migrants under the 1Malaysia One Call Centre (1MOCC) on July 30, said its secretary-general Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim.

Alwi, who is also chairman of the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (MAPO), said the special hotline, 03-8000 8000, was an initiative under the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) and in line with the aspiration of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"This special hotline operates from 7.30 am to 9 pm daily. Six officers will be attending the calls and channelling the complaints or reports to the relevant enforcement agencies, such as the police and the Immigration Department," he said in a statement Wednesday.

Alwi said the public could also lodge complaints or reports outside the operating hours as the officers on would take action based on the recorded calls as soon as they check in for duty the following day.

"The ministry urges the public to report immediately if they have any information on any activity involving the crimes of human trafficking or smuggling of migrants," he said.

-- BERNAMA