Stop the drug menace before it's too late
KUALA LUMPUR: The phrase ‘fight till the end' must be the rallying cry for the Malays in saving themselves from the drug scourge that is getting worse by the day.
It appears drugs are synonymous with the Malays, with the majority of those involved in drugs coming from the community.
What is going on? In Indonesia and the Philippines leaders have issued hardhitting statements that drug addicts should be shot dead. Our country has yet to go that far. We still abide by our religious beliefs, and the belief every disease has a remedy.
In Terengganu, drug addiction among the fishermen and their children are a serious matter. Many of the young have been lost even before they reached adolescence. This does not include the fate of those addicts in the Felda land schemes as pointed out by Acting Pahang Sultan Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
His Royal Highness voiced out his concern on the rising drug menace in Felda schemes in the state. The issue was also seriously viewed by the Malay Rulers' Council recently, that called for all concerned parties to immediately take proactive steps to find a solution to the problem.
His Royal Highness does not want to see the Felda land schemes remain as a drug addicts' haven and hoped that the problem could be overcome fast. His views should be considered seriously.
The issues relating to drugs are not just the concerns of the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) and police. It involves all parties, and it does not matter who. No one is safe until this drug menace is addressed. Drugs could destroy the faith, race and nation.
Previously, the Kelantan State Government provided wholehearted support to the Deputy Prime Minister on the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for the police in Kelantan to bolster the efforts in eradicating drug trafficking from a neighbouring country.
The Deputy Prime Minister wanted the illegal jungle trails along the border used for drug smuggling activities to be monitored and investigated.
Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) has established the Centre for Research in Addiction (CentRenA) headed by Prof Dr Nasir Mohamad, a medical expert.
Apart from serving as a comprehensive rehabilitation centre using numerous methods, the centre has managed to introduce research studies through the cooperation of international research centres and local higher education institutions.
CentRenA also works with NGOs and all related institutions to ensure more aggressive and effective actions could be taken.
CentRenA conducts research on rehabilitation to improve retention rates of addicts who have been undergoing the Metadone Substitute Treatment (TGM) programme.
According to Dr Nasir, TGM is a drug substitution therapy to address the 'withdrawal symptom' effects and addiction.
All expertise is utilised to ensure addiction could be eradicated. This include biological, psychological and psychospiritual treatment.
Innovative products are also produced in enhancing the client recovery rate from addiction including Psychospiritual Module, i-Dispenser machine and supplements.
Being an AADK icon at the Terengganu State level and researcher at CentRenA, I will like to suggest several steps to save the Malays and Islam before it is too late, apart from the efforts listed above.
First, the drug menace has to be eradicated right from the source. There should not be any compromise on the scourge. Find the drug pushers who are out to destroy the Malays. In Indonesia and the Philippines, drug pushers and hardcore addicts will be shot dead. Could not the same be done in Malaysia?
I'm very confident those distributing drugs among the young Malays, are part of the strategy to enfeeble and destroy the Malays and Islam. Their target is youngsters. When the younger generation could no longer contribute to their country, it will be the beginning of the destruction of a nation. I plead to the youngsters, just say NO, on anything relating to drugs, including smoking and taking any form of opiate.
Second, all government agencies have to be mobilised aggressively and collectively. They are of no use if their functions appear on paper only.
Forget about politics in fighting the drug scourge. In a nutshell, from the highest leaders to the Village Development and Security Committee members have to join hands in eradicating the menace wholeheartedly. All these agencies and committees must have the profiles of the addicts.
The government has to increase the number of AADK staff at each district and village. Similar to the placement of SPRM officers in each government agency. Like how serious we are in eradicating the corruption menace, the same goes for drugs.
Third, parents have to hand over their addicted children to the authorities to be rehabilitated. They cannot hide their children fearing shame, as this is very dangerous.
Many murders, including killing of parents are due to addiction. No child would want to kill their parents, but this is what happens under the influence of drugs.
Fourth, it is certainly difficult to rehabilitate drug addicts. It appears like there is no way out. Today we use a type of substitute drug known as Metadone, that has been banned in Singapore, to rehabilitate addicts. This is certainly not the solution for the problem.
Treating drug addicts with another drug is not the way. It is time to think of another approach like the Methodone Substitute Therapy as done and proposed by UniSZA's CentRenA. The spiritual and psycospiritual elements have to be combined in the treatment programme.
Fifth, prevention is better than cure. The youngsters have to be made aware of the dangers of drug addiction.
Many drug addiction cases start with smoking. Though cigarette taxes bring revenue to the nation, the dangers outweigh the benefits. Hence, cigarettes should be banned altogether from now on.
(This commentary is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect BERNAMA's stand or views on the matter) - Bernama