Sarawak among lowest states in drugs cases

February 25, 2015

KUCHING: Sarawak is one of the states in the country with the lowest drug cases, revealed State Narcotics Investigation Department head Supt Lukas Aket.

"In Sarawak, we are third or fourth lowest in drug cases, with Perlis the lowest. States with the highest cases are Selangor, Penang and Johor," he said told a press conference after attending a meeting organised by the National Association for the Prevention of Drugs (PEMADAM) at Imperial Hotel here, yesterday.

State PEMADAM chairman Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing, also attended the meeting.

Lukas said 5,237 cases of arrest for drug offences were made in Sarawak last year.

"We are aware of the changing trend of drugs from the more traditional drugs to designer drugs," he said.

Meanwhile during the meeting, Abdul Karim said the state PEMADAM had a 5-year strategic action plan to combat drug abuse in Sarawak.

"We will try to reach out to schools, institution of higher leaning, and also to parents.

At the same time, we will also try to identify the areas where there is a high level of activities in drug abuse," he said.

Abdul Karim also expressed his gratitude to former chairman of state PEMADAM Datuk Hajah Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Haji Fauzi for her contributions to the association for nearly 30 years.

"Drug abuse cases in Sarawak can be considered as one of the lowest in the country and this can be attributed to the hard work of the former chairman, whom I believe had played an important role in this," he said.'

Also present was Wan Madhi Wan Salleh from the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK).