District-level squads to combat drug threat

KUCHING: Efforts to combat drug abuse at the grassroots level will be strengthened through the establishment of District Anti-Drug Squads with a targetted 77,000 members this year.

State Anti-Drug Squad (SKUAD) chairman Royston Valentine said there is a need to establish such squads at the district level throughout the state.

“We see this method as very important because Sarawak is vast, and the need to establish squads at the district level is a way for us to expand the role of these squads at the grassroots level,” said the Tellian assemblyman.

“At the district level, we see many of our youth willing to commit to assisting these squads in carrying out various activities, and this year we have set a target to register a total of 77,000 members,” Royston was quoted as saying in an Ukas report after the State Anti-Drug Squad meeting and a working visit to the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) Sarawak Office recently.

According to him, the establishment of squads at the district level will help facilitate the implementation of programmes, build a larger network of cooperation with government agencies, private entities, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as well as promote awareness campaigns against drug abuse.

Meanwhile, newly appointed AADK Sarawak director Abdul Hamediee Ibrahim, who reported for duty in November last year, stated that AADK is committed to assisting the government in combating drugs.

He added that drug abuse has started to infiltrate longhouse areas, which is concerning.

During the meeting 11 District Anti-Drug Squad chairmen also presented programmes implemented in 2023 and proposed various activities for this year.