Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye
SIBU: Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) calls for the beefing up of the criminal justice system to combat drugs scourge, where drug addiction cases are on the rise in the country.
MCPF senior vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye stressed that there is an urgent need to set up special courts to hear drug cases, singling out this is among the measures to tackle the social menace.
“Currently, the court takes a long time to hear and adjudicate drug cases. So, it is timely we have special courts to clear backlogged drug cases,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Citing the statistics from National Anti-Drug Agency’s (AADK) National Drug Information System, the number of drug addiction cases in Malaysia has increased by 14 per cent to 30,844 in 2016, compared to 26,668 in 2015.
“In 2016, a total of 22,923 of those arrested were new drug addicts while in 2015, some 20,289 were new drug addicts.
“The actual number of drug addicts is said to be four times greater as most of the drug addicts could not be detected by the authorities and the addicts do not come forward to seek treatment,” Lee said.
He was commenting on Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan’s recent call that Malaysians must join hands in combating drug abuse in order to see their country free from this social menace.
Awang Tengah had expressed his regret that this problem is still plaguing Malaysia, despite the government having spent a lot on rehabilitation and drug-prevention programmes.
Speaking at an appreciation dinner for ‘Strategic Friends’ of Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (Puspen) Kuching at a hotel in Kuching last week, he pointed out that some quarters use the country as the transit to smuggle drugs into other countries.
Quite a number of people – irrespective of race, religion, culture and background – were used to smuggle drugs across the border and later on, they ended up in jail, Awang Tengah noted.
He said Malaysia has stringent laws when it comes to drug problem – even the mandatory death sentence for those convicted of drug offences – but this does not seem to deter such wrongdoing.
Echoing Awang Tengah’s sentiment, Lee noted despite enforcement activities in the country, drug syndicates are still active and are now focusing on the younger generation to expand their illicit drug trade.
He thus urged: “This requires a total war on drugs. To wage a war against drugs, we have to get involvement and commitment from all segments of society. War on drugs must begin from home, while supported by schools, workplaces and the communities.
“We have to get the involvement and commitment from all segments of society. War on drugs must begin from home, while supported by schools, workplaces and the communities,” he added.
In this regard, Lee repeated his calls for every Malaysians to take responsibility in the fight against the drug menace and not leave it entirely to the government to tackle the social ills.
The government must take the lead and then supported by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the community.
Turning to parents, he said they must be more attentive of the problem by taking initiative to keep a hawk eye on their children’s movement.
Family institution must play a very important role and show concern if their children are affected by seeking help from the authorities. He also called for steps to be taken to review all efforts by all the respective agencies.
“Enforcement activities must also be strengthened. All relevant enforcement agencies including the police, customs and AADK must coordinate their drug eradication efforts,” he added.
At the same time, he pointed out that even school’s anti-drug education programmes must be reviewed and be made more effective.
He also suggested that rehabilitated drug addicts be given employment opportunities to prevent them from relapsing into their old drug habits.
“The war on drugs will only be effective if we have efficient enforcement measures and justice system; polices which are comprehensive, preventive and educational; combined with access to treatment and rehabilitation as well as social and family inclusion,” Lee pointed out.