Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah
SIBU: The present drug prevention programmes and strategies ought to be relooked at, says Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said this is to ensure that the programmes and strategies would effectively impact the targeted groups.
Abdul Karim, who is also Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam) Sarawak chairman, was commenting on Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development
Datuk Fatimah Abdullah’s call for anti-drug efforts involving schools to be carried out by various parties to ensure that drug problems among students could be prevented.
According to Fatimah, statistics show that crime cases such as snatch theft and housebreaking were sometimes related to drug addiction cases.
Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, said: “This matter is long known and that is the reason why the government sees drug abuse as a serious problem. Drug abuse awareness programmes need to start early and even when youths are still in school.
“They need to be informed early of the danger of drug abuse.”
On a different matter, Abdul Karim welcomed any move to highlight the state as a tourist destination.
He was asked on the Federation of Registered Chinese Associations (Forca) Bintulu in attempting to book a spot in the Malaysia Book of Records for the longest mooncake line in the country, measuring 888m long.
Forca Bintulu president Hii Toh Him expressed confidence that with the support of the people there, this record breaking attempt-cum-charity fundraising programme would be successful.
Abdul Karim responded: “Any attempt to break records or carry out feats, which would put Sarawak on the tourism map is very much encouraged.”