Efforts to curb drug menace in Sarawak need more bite, says Tupong rep

IT SEEMS that measures taken to curb the drug menace and also to ensure full rehabilitation of addicts have not been effective enough.

According to Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman ( BN-Tupong), these two aspects have not been satisfactorily addressed by the relevant authorities.

“Drug abuse is a major issue that we are facing now. Drugs are easily available at very cheap prices and are sold openly sometimes; the modus operandi here towards creating a bigger market is to give free drugs to schoolchildren for them to try.

“Once they are hooked on drugs, they would become frequent users – and then, buyers. This is where other social problems start; theft, rape, bullying – the list is endless.

“This is happening and we need to do something about it,” he said when debating on the state budget at the DUN sitting yesterday.

In this regard, Fazzrudin called for the relevant authorities to be provided with adequate support and be given priority in the budget allocation so that more effective actions could be taken to curb drug abuse.

He also requested for rehabilitation centres in the state to be upgraded so that they could accommodate addicts coming for rehabilitation.

“Adequate funds must be allocated to these agencies, for them to execute their programmes such as regular spotchecks and programmes at school, which will assist in creating awareness of the drug menace and also form of deterrent to the school- children, preventing them from being sucked into the problem.”