SIBU: Surprise urine tests should be done in schools where students are suspected to be involved in drug abuse.
This suggestion was made by Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) senior vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who said it was not practical for the exercise to be carried out in every school.
“But I would say they can do a random urine test especially in schools which the authority suspects to have students involved in drugs. It (urine test) may not be necessary for every school as there are so many schools.
“But those schools, which are a bit problematic with problematic students and had been identified, may have a drug problem. Then, they can do a random urine test on students in order to find out whether there are students who are involved in drugs,” Lee told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.
He was reacting to Pengasih Association Malaysia president Datuk Mohd Yunus Pathi’s suggestion that frequent and surprise urine test should be conducted throughout schools to curb drug trafficking and abuse among students.
Mohd Yunus reportedly said there were foreign students who had become the source of drug trafficking and because of that, they felt it was crucial to conduct surprise urine tests on students.
He stated this to the media after a seminar dubbed ‘Masih Ada Yang Sayang’ at Dynasty Hotel, Miri recently.
He reportedly urged schools to report cases of drug trafficking and drug abuse among students to the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) and not cover them up, and advised schools to work together with relevant agencies towards rehabilitation instead of expelling the students.
On this, Lee figured urine tests would only be possible if school heads were prepared to admit they had such problem.
“If there are schools not prepared to be open and transparent, it may be a bit difficult to do it (screening).
“But as I said if there are schools, where there is a problem, I think the problem must be nipped in the bud,” he added.
Saying most schools are generally protective of their image, Lee suggested that the schools do the screening quietly without the glare of publicity and take the necessary actions to either advise or counsel the students.
Meanwhile, according to AADK’s 2014 statistics, those as young as 13 years old were already attempting drugs.
It revealed that 25 new cases of drug abuse involved those aged between 13 and 15 years, and there were three repeat cases.