Trafficking Scandal in Keningau: Kapayan Assemblywoman Demands Justice for Exploited Girls

18 August 2025

KOTA KINABALU: A shocking case of human trafficking involving four young girls, including minors, has been uncovered in Keningau, prompting strong condemnation from Kapayan State Assemblywoman, Datuk Jannie Lasimbang.

Describing the incident as a “grave crime” and “a betrayal of the dignity and future of our children,” Jannie expressed deep concern not only over the exploitation itself but also over the systemic issues that allow such abuse to flourish.

While the police have been praised for their swift intervention in rescuing the victims and placing them in protective shelters, the Assemblywoman stressed that the path to justice must not end with the arrest of a single 18-year-old girl, believed to be the main suspect.

“There is a high likelihood that she too is a victim, groomed, manipulated, and used by those more powerful,” said Jannie.

“We must ask: who are the real masterminds behind this? Who is profiting from the abuse of these children?”

The Assemblywoman called for a comprehensive investigation that targets the full trafficking network, including those who purchase sex from minors.

“Let us be clear, these are not ‘customers’. They are perpetrators of statutory rape. They must face the full force of the law,” she asserted.

“The premises that enable such crimes must also be scrutinised and held accountable.”

Jannie urged for a holistic response that not only punishes offenders but also supports the survivors, many of whom face lasting psychological trauma.

“Rescuing their bodies is not enough, we must also heal their minds,” she said. “These girls deserve trauma-informed care, access to education, and the opportunity to rebuild their lives without stigma.”

Warning that human trafficking is not a distant issue but one happening in plain sight, she condemned the culture of silence and apathy that allows such crimes to persist.

“As a mother, a woman, and a legislator, I refuse to remain silent,” she declared. “Justice must not stop at one arrest. It must dismantle the entire machinery of exploitation.”

Jannie concluded by urging the authorities to pursue every lead to its root and ensure all involved, from recruiters to buyers, are brought to justice.