Lam Thye urges review of school anti-drug plans

ALOR STAR: The time has come for a review of Drug Prevention Education Programmes (PPDs) in schools.

Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) senior vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said this was necessary in light of a report that drug-trafficking syndicates were using teenagers to peddle drugs in schools.

This was in addition to the findings by Kedah National Anti-Drugs Agency (Nada) that the number of students in the state taking methamphetamine was on the rise, he said.

As such, he urged the Education Ministry to review the effectiveness of PPDas in schools and formulate more potent prevention measures.

“The ministry should hold a discussion with government agencies, such as Nada and police, to study and identify more effective prevention measures and come up with an early-intervention strategy to address the trend.

“We also hope to see the police’s Narcotic Investigation Department step up their operations to weed out drug-trafficking syndicates recruiting students and teenagers to become their peddlers,” he told the News Straits Times yesterday.

Lee said poverty might have forced teenagers to peddle drugs at a young age as they did not fully understand the risks they were taking.

“We need to strengthen the family institution as it is the first line of defence against drug abuse.

“Parents should give due attention and monitor their children to stop them from falling into drugs and addiction.

“The role of parent-teacher associations is equally important.

“They should organise more programmes and activities focusing on preventing drug abuse,” he said.

State Education Committee chairman Datuk Tajul Urus Mat Zain urged school officials not to conceal drug addiction in their student body so that early intervention could be taken.

Tajul said the state government viewed the matter seriously and acknowledged that drastic and stern action should be taken to address the issue.

However, he said, any effort undertaken by law enforcement agencies and the state government would be dampened without cooperation from other stakeholders.

“All schools should be open about this matter and should not conceal drug addiction cases to protect their image.

“They must realise the long-term implications of doing so,” he said.

It was reported yesterday that state Nada director Mohammad Nazer Mustafa revealed that more and more students in Kedah were taking methamphetamine this year, despite a drop in the overall number of students abusing drugs.

He said a survey by the agency revealed that the number of students taking methamphetamine had increased by 10 per cent compared with last year.

He added that last year, 374 students were identified as taking drugs, with about 70 per cent of them admitting to using methamphetamine.