SIBU: States concerned with the glue-sniffing scourge may be able to curb it by tweaking the terms and conditions stipulated in trade and business licences.
Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said emulating what Melaka had done might not be worthwhile as it might not be “legally enforceable” because regulations on glue sniffing might not be a state right.
“The motion (by Melaka) is good as advisory to the businesses and handlers of glue sniffing materials in the state, but I’m afraid it has little validity in law,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
“However, states may, if they view it as expedient, include the terms and conditions of glue control and supervision in their trade and business licences issued by the state authority for those operating under their jurisdiction.”
He said this when asked if Sarawak should emulate Melaka in approving a motion to control and restrict the sale of glue to curb glue-sniffing, which, Wan Junaidi admitted, is a major social issue in Sarawak as children as young as 10 years old are involved.
The Melaka Legislative Assembly approved the motion on Monday, making them the first state in the country to do so.
Bernama reported that the motion was proposed by BN Klebang assemblyman Lim Ban Hong and it was supported by 21 BN assemblymen and the PAS assemblyman for Bukit Baru, Dr Md Khalid Kassim. The six DAP elected representatives in the august House abstained.
Wan Junaidi said all enforcement agencies were under federal control. For example, the Police, Anti-drug Agency, Customs Department, and Immigration Department, among others, were federal agencies.
Even the power of extra police and security guard employed by state local councils derive their powers from federal laws and authorities, he added.
“We have to refer back to the Federal Constitution, which determines the authority of federal and states to make law, and where both state and federal governments have the concurrent right to make law.”
Wan Junaidi said the Ministry of Home Affairs was seriously looking into the glue sniffing law.
He said he had studied the laws of other countries and personally instructed that a draft law be made for Cabinet decision as soon as possible.
“The draft is now being deliberated and studied by agencies in KDN (Ministry of Home Affairs) and other ministries.
“This is because it involves the Ministry of International Trade and Ministry of Consumer Affairs. We have to engage other stakeholders as well, including consumers and business associations.”