AADK identifies 3 drug-abuse ‘high-risk’ areas in Sarawak

KUCHING:The National AntiDrugs Agency (AADK) has identified three areas in Sarawak that are considered ‘high-risk’ in terms of drug abuse.

According to Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the three areas are Kampung Tabuan Melayu and Matang in Kuching, and Bekenu.

“The statistics of those who are involved in drug-related activities in these three areas are relatively high.

“As such, integrated efforts and programmes would be carried out in these areas so that drugabuse issues could be addressed and the awareness of the dangers of drugs could be instilled in the community,” Abdul karim, who is also Drugs Prevention Association of Malaysia (Pemadam) Sarawak chairman, told a press conference after chairing the state-level AntiDrug Action Council meeting at Baitulmakmur Building here yesterday.

However, he pointed out that the ‘high-risk’ identification of these three areas did not mean that other areas in Sarawak were drug-free.

“If we look at the drug issues in Sarawak, they’re not limited to the urban areas as based on the feedback received from AADK and the police, they show that drug abuse has spread up into the interiors of every district and affected various racial communities in the state,” he said.

Meanwhile, Abdul Karim said an agreement was reached at the meeting yesterday, in that a ‘Pusat Pemulihan Akhlak’ (PPA) would be set up in Sarawak.

He said this was in view of Sarawak having recorded an increase in the number of drug offenders under the Special Preventive Measures Act.

“Sarawak does not have a PPA. Currently, there are only four rehabilitation centres in the country – one each in Simpang Rengam and Muar (both in Johor), Machang (Kelantan) and Batu Gajah (Perak).

“We want Sarawak to have this centre so that those who arrested for drug offences in the state could be placed here, instead of them being sent to Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.

Abdul Karim also expressed hope that the federal government would consider the proposal of establish a PPA in Sarawak.

According to him, the fight against drugs requires a more comprehensive enforcement, clearer legal aspects as well as a more efficient security management.

“We need to tackle the issue of drug abuse together because this problem cannot be managed overnight.

“It requires continuous effort from all the relevant agencies, as well as from the community,” he said.