Dr Jerip delivers his speech at the open ceremony.
KUCHING: There is an urgent need to step up efforts to combat drug menace in Sarawak, says Assistant Minister of Transportation Datuk Dr Jerip Susil.
He said the threat posed by drug abuse in Sarawak now is very real and is spreading into the rural areas.
He lamented that more and more students too were found involved in drug abuse cases which if unchecked, would destroy the future of the young generation.
Dr Jerip thus called on parents and teachers to join forces with the relevant authorities in the war against drug menace in Sarawak.
“At the same time, I also hope the students will stay away from drugs and instead focus on their studies to ensure a brighter future for themselves,” he said at the opening ceremony of a dialogue and an anti-drug and anti-dengue exhibition organised by the Kawasan Rukun Tetangga (KRT) Tabuan Laru here yesterday.
According to a Bernama report on Jan 5, Sarawak recorded the highest number of secondary school students found positive for drugs in the country as at October 2018.
Quoting the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) director-general Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah, the report said from an inspection of urine screenings at 191 schools in high-risk areas, 301 students were found positive for drugs.
The high-risk areas are Gita, Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.
“AADK found most of these students are addicted to methamphetamine and the situation is very worrying as it involves teenagers below 18 years old.
“Those found positive would be monitored and given counselling as well as guidance by trained teachers while undergoing urine tests by AADK until they are free from drug abuse,” Zulkifli was quoted as saying.
Dr Jerip meanwhile commended KRT Tabuan Laru for organising the awareness programme.