About 75% of Malaysia’s prison population involves drug-related offences, with eight in 10 offenders aged 15 to 39, says Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution.
PETALING JAYA: About 75% of Malaysia’s prison population comprises individuals convicted of drug-related offences, while drug abuse among children below 15 is also becoming increasingly worrying, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said individuals aged between 15 and 39 accounted for the largest proportion of inmates involved in drug-related offences, including cases under Sections 15(1), 12(2) and 39 of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
“Eight out of every 10 individuals involved in drug-related cases were aged between 15 and 39, with the majority unemployed.
“While I am proud of prison initiatives to produce huffaz, I am deeply concerned about the overall trend of drug addiction in our country,” he said at a press conference after visiting the Home Ministry’s Madani Adopted Village and Adopted School Programme in Machang, Kelantan.
Saifuddin said four states had recorded drug abuse rates above the national threshold: Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
“Pendang in Kedah recorded the highest rate among districts nationwide, followed by Kuala Krai, while Tumpat, Tanah Merah, Bachok and Besut were also among the districts with critically high rates.”
He said districts recording more than 1,000 cases per 100,000 population were classified as critical, based on data compiled from four sources using a methodology developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The data was obtained from narcotics agencies, the Health Ministry, public rehabilitation centres under the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) and private rehabilitation centres.
Saifuddin said synthetic drugs were more prevalent along the east coast, while a wider range of substances was used along the west coast. However, synthetic drug use remained high nationwide.
To address the problem, he said the Home Ministry was working with AADK, the police and state governments to map affected districts using official data and direct outreach programmes towards areas facing the most serious challenges.
He said AADK’s responsibilities included public education and prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation, adding that greater awareness among parents and communities was essential to preventing drug abuse.
Saifuddin said outreach initiatives had been carried out in Kedah with the support of the Raja Muda of Kedah. These included a stakeholder seminar at Hotel Tabung Haji, followed by a programme at Felda Bukit Tangga in Kubang Pasu.
Similar outreach, awareness and enforcement programmes had been conducted in every district in Pahang, with the state ruler selecting a Felda settlement in the Ketari state constituency in Bentong for the final programme.