Non-governmental organisations urged to join war against drugs, social ills
LAWAS: Non- governmental organisations ( NGOs) have been asked to join the battle against drug abuse and social ills.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan called on NGOs to help develop the inner strength of children through guidance and religious values.
“This is what NGOs in the state should strive to help address as falling to negative influences or drug abuse stems from individual’s weaknesses,” he said during a Muslim Welfare Association of Malaysia ( Perkim) Lawas appreciation dinner on Tuesday.
He said social ills such as cyber gambling and drug abuse could be fought through inner strength and a strong family institution thanks to education, guidance, and religious values.
Awang Tengah lamented that many youths involved in cyber gambling here were from Bumiputera families.
He commended Perkim Lawas for its numerous programmes and activities in the past 23 years in reaching out to society through welfare and religious activities leading to its national recognition as the third most active branch.
“Perkim Lawas is the driving force of the setting up of PDK ( Community Based Rehabilitation Centre) Lawas, lending its building for the care and teaching centre for disabled children before the latter got it own premises to operate in,” he said.
Perkim Lawas chairperson Datuk Dayang Morliah Awang Daud said the branch was honoured and happy to receive the national recognition for its people and religious- centric programmes.
She said the national award was announced during the Perkim Malaysia annual general meeting on Aug 12.
“It will motivate the branch to work harder in serving society and meeting our objectives,” she said.