Drug problem under control 

KUCHING: The drug problem in Sarawak is under control, said Malaysia Drugs Prevention Association Sarawak branch (PEMADAM Sarawak) chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. 

He said Sarawak ranked as the fourth state with the smallest drug problem in Malaysia. 

However, he emphasised that the issue shouldn’t be overlooked as drug issues required a holistic approach.

 “Every family, parent, agency, department or elected representative must be aware of drug issues that are happening. 

“If the drug issue is still small, you won’t see the effect but when it’s big, it’s difficult to control. 

“PEMADAM’s responsibility is more about creating awareness because that is our target; it’s not to arrest people. 

“Our target is to go to the schools, village development and security committees (JKKKs) and others to inform the public about the dangers of drugs and that’s what we’ve discussed today,” he told a press conference after officiating at the 77th PEMADAM Sarawak Coordinating Committee Meeting at a hotel here yesterday (Dec 4). 

On the trend of drug consumption among students, Abdul Karim, who is also the Youth, Sport and Entrepreneur Development Minister, said he acknowledged the difficulty in achieving zero drug involvement due to yearly occurrences of individuals getting involved in drugs.

“On the other hand, there are those who are involved in trafficking because the amount of money involved is very lucrative. 

“So we have to keep on doing our part because of our responsibility to the community,” he stressed.