Fatimah: State govt committed to fighting drug abuse

THE state government remains committed to combat drug abuse through its Integrated Intervention Action Plan which was launched last year.

According to Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah ( BN- Dalat), up until Oct 26 this year, 89 programmes and educational activities involving 9,556 individuals have been conducted between the state government and various related nongovernmental organisations.

“The National Anti- Drug Agency ( AADK) this year, through its ‘Sayang Hidup Elak Derita Selamanya’ ( Shields), also conducted 182 programmes at secondary schools,” she said in response to a question by Mohammad Razi Sitam ( BNSaribas) on initiatives taken by the state government to fight drug abuse.

“Through the community empowerment initiative, the state AADK had conducted 108 prevention programmes in rural areas such as Mukah, Betong, Sarikei and Sri Aman, to name a few,” she added.

On enforcement, Fatimah said from January to September this year, the state Narcotics Crime Investigation Department foiled six main drug syndicates operating in the state and arrested 401 individuals for supplying drugs. There were also 1,352 cases involving drug possession and 3,408 cases involving those who tested positive for drugs.

“In the rehabilitation context, we currently have 190 individuals who are clients at the Kuching Narcotic Addiction Rehabilitation Centre ( Puspen), while 62 volunteered for rehabilitation sessions at the Care and Cure Service Centre Kuching,” she disclosed, adding that 1,177 individuals were under monitoring by the AADK in districts throughout Sarawak.

Fatimah also pointed that under a recent workshop involving committees of the Integrated Intervention Action Plan, seven Care and Cure Service Centres will be set up in Lawas, Samarahan, Betong, Serian, Mukah, Bintulu and Sarikei.