Tangani penyalahgunaan bahan mengkhayalkan, kata Karim

March 23, 2018

SIDANG MEDIA: Karim (tengah) bersama Naib Presiden PEMADAM Kebangsaan Omar Osman dan ahli jawatankuasa PEMADAM yang lain pada sidang media selepas Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa PEMADAM di sebuah hotel terkemuka di Kuching, semalam.

KUCHING: Kerajaan persekutuan perlu memandang serius gejala penyalahgunaan bahan mengkhayalkan seperti gam, ubat batuk dan pil nospan dengan menggubal undang-undang khas untuk menanganinya.

Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahmah Hamzah berkata dengan adanya undang-undang seperti itu maka penjualan dan pembelian bahan-bahan tersebut akan dapat dikawal.

“Undang-undang khas ini tidak dapat dibuat melalui Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN), ia perlu di Parlimen tetapi walaupun sudah beberapa kali dicadangkan, ia masih tidak dilaksanakan.

Move not to give licence to outlets lauded

April 20, 2016

Abdul Karim looks at one of the health products of the Health Department at the exhibition. Hamsein is on his right.

LUNDU: State PEMADAM Chairman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah commended Lundu District Office for taking a stance of not approving licence for any entertainment or gambling outlet in the town.

“I am glad to hear that the office is taking a firm stance in not approving licence for any entertainment or gambling outlet in Lundu, as these are places that will lead youths into social ills, such as drug abuse.

“However, as the area develops, the crime rate may rise and so too are people attempting to push drugs, particularly poor man’s drugs such as gum or cough syrup as we still do not have the laws to regulate these substances.

“Therefore, it is important to educate our youths about the dangers of drug abuse,” he said at the closing ceremony of Iman Drug-Free School Programme at SMK Lundu yesterday.

Abdul Karim noted that even though drug abuse was less worrying in Sarawak due to its geographical location that prevented easy entry of drugs into the state, there was the need for parents and schools to monitor the activities of youngsters.

“It may not be a very big problem in the state now, but we cannot be complacent. We still need to create awareness on the dangers. Drug abuse can destroy a nation. Once under the influence of drugs, individuals cannot think or work properly and thus will affect productivity and the economy.

“Parents need to monitor their children’s activities and schools are ideal avenues to hold awareness programmes.

Kerjasama semua untuk tangani najis dadah -Karim

April 13, 2016

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah dan para jemputan menunjukkan sokongan terhadap Skuad 1 Malaysia.

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah bertanya
sesuatu kepada pegawai Kastam.

ASAJAYA: Kerjasama semua pihak amat diperlukan untuk menangani masalah najis dadah dalam masyarakat.

Pengerusi PEMADAM Negeri Sarawak Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata pihak penguatkuasa tidak berupaya untuk membenteras masalah ini sekiranya pihak yang lain mengambil sikap lepas tangan.

Beliau berucap dalam Majlis Perasmian Program Iman : Sekolah Bebas Dadah di SMK Hajjah Laila Taib disini petang tadi.

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah dan para hadirin menyaksikan demonstrasi mengesan dadah oleh anjing pengesan dadah.

Beliau selanjutnya menambah penganjuran program-program yang berusaha memberi kesedaran kepada anak-anak muda tentang bahaya najis dadah amat dialu-alukan kerana ia dapat membantu generasi muda mengelakkan diri daripada terjebak.

Abdul Karim berkata anak-anak muda adalah pewaris kepada kepimpinan yang sedia ada.

Para pelajar menyaksi demonstrasi mengesan dadah oleh anjing pengesan dadah.

Beliau menambah sekiranya tiada usaha untuk membantu mereka, dikhuatir mereka akan terpengaruh dengan budaya liar yang akhirnya akan merosakkan masa hadapan mereka.

Pemadam state chief chides Lee for no-show criticism

March 2, 2016

KUCHING: Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam) Sarawak chairman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has chided Communications Assistant Minister Datuk Dr Lee Kim Shin for criticising Pemadam, National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) and the police for not showing up at the opening ceremony of a new drug rehabilitation centre in Miri recently.

According to him, the association was not invited to the opening ceremony in the first place.

“I wish to inform that the state Pemadam and its Miri branch were never informed nor invited to this new rehabilitation centre ceremony and I am unaware whether the police or AADK were invited either,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Lee last Saturday expressed his disappointment at the no-show by police, AADK and Pemadam at the opening of Sarawak Kenosis Home – a drug rehabilitation centre for men – at Tanjong Lobang in Miri.

Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Urban Areas), said Lee should have checked on the invite with the organiser or with him in his capacity as assistant minister at the Ministry of Social Development on Pemadam and AADK before making the statement which was uncalled for.

“Furthermore, Datuk Lee should also check on the procedure and administrative arrangement for the setting up of a private drug rehabilitation centre.

“I was informed that anybody or organisation that wishes to set up a private drug rehabilitation centre must seek clearance and endorsement from the Ministry of Home Affairs and AADK and from what I was informed, no such clearance or request has been sought by this private drug rehabilitation centre,” he remarked.

Sarawak masih dalam zon selamat - Karim

September 15, 2015

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah di apit oleh Ketua Pengarah AADK Sarawak Wan Madehi Wan Salleh (kanan) dan Timbalan Ketua Pengarah AADK (Operasi) Izhar Abu Talib.

KUCHING: Kategori umur yang paling aktif dalam kes penagihan dadah di Sarawak dalam tahun 2014 ialah 22 tahun hingga 29 tahun.

Ini didedahkan oleh Menteri Muda Perumahan dan Belia Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah dalam sidang akhbar yang diadakan di sini hari ini.

Beliau turut mendedahkan Sarawak mencatatkan jumlah penagih yang dikesan seramai 1,114 dari tarikh 01 Januari 2014 sehingga 31 Mei 2015 yang mana Bahagian Kuching mencatatkan jumlah penagih yang dikesan yang paling ramai sebanyak 351 orang.

Walau bagaimanapun, menurut Abdul Karim, Sarawak "masih berada di dalam zon selamat" jika dibandingkan dengan mana-mana negeri di Malaysia.

Tambah beliau lagi, agensi-agensi kerajaan yang berkaitan tidak memandang ringan hal ini dan akan terus memperhebatkan usaha-usaha untuk membanteras dadah.

Menurut beliau, diantara usaha-usaha yang sedang dilakukan ialah dengan "menghalusi" mekanisme bagi tujuan melicinkan keseluruhan proses memerangi dadah.

Abdul Karim, yang merupakan Pengerusi PEMADAM Sarawak, turut memberitahu kes penagihan ubat batuk di negeri ini tidak banyak kerana kebanyakan kes-kes penagihan dadah lebih tertumpu kepada pil Nospan dan menghidu gam.

Pemadam giatkan program kesedaran bahaya dadah di sekolah

10 September 2015

KUCHING 9 Sept. – Menyedari kecenderungan remaja terjebak dalam aktiviti penagihan dadah, Persa­tuan Mencegah Da­dah Malaysia (Pema­dam) Sarawak me­nya­sarkan untuk memper­banyakkan kempen ke­sedaran tentang ba­haya dadah kepada pe­lajar sekolah.

Pengerusinya, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, hal ini kerana dalam usia remaja, golongan pelajar mudah terjebak dengan gejala tidak sihat sekiranya tidak diberi kesedaran.

Justeru, katanya, adalah pen­ting program kesedaran dibuat di peringkat awal bagi membolehkan pelajar mengetahui bahaya dan kesan akibat menyalahgunakan dadah.

“Kita akan memperbanyakkan lagi program kesedaran supaya pelajar sedar dan mengetahui tentang bahaya najis dadah yang menjadi musuh nombor satu negara,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika berucap merasmikan Pe­lancaran Program Pendidikan Pencegahan Dadah (Program Ilmu-Ilmu Maju Aktif Nekad) di Sekolah Me­nengah Kebangsa­an (SMK) Petra Jaya di sini, semalam.

Dalam majlis itu, beliau turut mengumumkan peruntukan RM5,000 kepada Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru (PIBG) SMK Petra Jaya bagi mengadakan pelbagai program dan aktiviti untuk pelajar.

Mengulas lanjut, Abdul Karim berkata, secara keseluruhannya, statistik penyalahgunaan dadah membabitkan pelajar di negeri ini masih berada pada tahap rendah berbanding negeri-negeri lain di Malaysia.

‘Sarawak still has lowest number of drug cases in country’

September 9, 2015 

Abdul Karim (second left) taking a closer look at a sample of drug brought in by Customs officers.

KUCHING: Youth Development Assistant Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is certain that drug-related cases in the state are still the lowest in the country.

“We are rather fortunate that we are separated from Peninsular Malaysia by the South China Sea which makes it more difficult for drugs to come in.

“Nonetheless, we cannot take things for granted and be complacent as pushers will use any means to bring drug into the state,” he said.

Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister for Housing and State Pemadam chairman, told reporters this after launching a ‘Drug Prevention Education Programme in Schools’ at SMK Petra Jaya here yesterday.

He said much efforts were put in by various enforcement agencies to fight the country’s number one enemy, and it was important to bring the rate down to the minimal.

“It’s impossible to eradicate the drug menace because as we all know although hard drugs may not be obtained easily, there are substitutes such as pills and cough syrup,” he said.

Hence Pemadam together with other government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and schools continue with educational programmes to create greater awareness among the public, particularly the younger generation.

Abd Karim: Growing number of substance abusers alarming

April 16, 2015

Abdul Karim speaking at the ceremony yesterday.

ASAJAYA: The number of intoxicative substance abusers in the state is growing at an alarming rate and something needs to be done to stop it.

In disclosing this, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Sarawak was now ranked “among the states with the highest number of abusers” of intoxicative substances, which according to him includes glue, pills, cough syrup and many others.

Although no data or statistics was revealed by him to back his claim, he was adamant that the number was alarming and he wanted greater cooperation from everyone, including law enforcers, community leaders and even members of the public to combat the negative activity.

“Substance abusers are regarded as offenders, although there’s little we can do to prosecute them for now. I firmly believe that they will definitely go on an ‘upgrade’ one day and become drug abusers (in search of stronger intoxicative substances), which is then a criminal offence in the country,” he pointed out yesterday.

On a brighter note, Abdul Karim was delighted to note that Sarawak was again rated as one of the states with the lowest number of drug abusers.

However, the Assistant Minister of Youth and Asajaya assemblyman feared that substance abusers would become drug abusers if nothing was done to curb intoxicative substance abuse in the state.

Hence, he vowed to fight for items known to be intoxicative substances, such as the common glue used for repair works, to be classified as drugs in the country to make it easier to nab the abusers.

‘Pemadam branches should have multi-racial committees’

April 16, 2015

ASAJAYA: Youth Assistant Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah reckons that all Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam) branches throughout the state should have multi-racial committee members.

At the opening of an annual general meeting for the Asajaya Pemadam branch at SMK Hajah Laila Taib (Asajaya II) yesterday, he said most communities in Sarawak are multi-racial to some extent.

“Drugs do not recognise race, religion or gender. We need to have multi-racial committee members so Pemadam would be more effective in its function in Sarawak at least,” he added.

Should there happen to be no multi-racial committee in any branch in Sarawak, Abdul Karim wants them to appoint “at least one or two” members from other races.

A multi-racial Pemadam unit will help as drug abusers would be more receptive to Pemadam members of their own race, he said.

Sarawak, according to Abdul Karim is unique in that no community in any area is really made up of one race only.

Meanwhile Asajaya Pemadam branch chairman Habari Bakar is looking forward to hold more activities, thanks to a RM10,000 pledge to the branch by Abdul Karim.

Laman rama chara moden nyual sereta nyadung dadah di menua tu

February 26, 2015

KUCHING: Opis Narkotik, Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) tetap beratika laman rama mensia mayuh baka Facebook ti nyadika kereban dikena bejualka dadah, madahka pengawa diri empu salah nguna dadah tauka endur ngulihka dadah, taja pan pengawa salah nya agi mimit di menua tu.

Kepala Opis Narkotik PDRM Supt Lukas Aket madahka polis sigi beratika aktiviti Facebook bala nembiak ke nyata mantaika gambar diri salah nguna dadah, madahka palan endur ngambi dadah tauka pemadah bukai bekaul enggau aktiviti dadah.

“Iya, kami sigi beratika aktiviti dadah ti dipandangka dalam Facebook sereta nengah telefon binching bala nembiak,” ku Lukas madah lebuh dikerandau ba aum media Khas Komiti Pengatur PEMADAM Menua Sarawak beserimbai enggau atur pengawa ‘Jasamu Dikenang ke ex-chairman PEMADAM Sarawak Datuk Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Fauzi’ di sebuah hotel ditu, ensanus.

Atur pengawa nya ke bela digulu Chairman baru PEMADAM ti dipadu Kepala Menteri Sarawak Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (nganti Sharifah Mordiah) madah, kerejasama ari mensia mayuh sigi diperansang enti sida iya bisi tetemuka Facebook orang ke tampak dipeda nyual dadah tauka mandang aktiviti sida salah nguna dadah, tau ngeripot pekara nya ngagai Opis Narkotik, PDRM.

“Ripot ari mensia mayuh sigi dikelalu laban enti ngarapka ejensi Anti-Dadah Kebangsaann (AADK), Narkotik aja, enda ulih. Sida iya pan enda ulih ba serata endur. Nya kebuah, kerejasama mensia mayuh sigi beguna amat,” ku Abdul Karim.

Ku Abdul Karim, enggau pemansang media rama diatu, chara nyadung dadah ukai baka kelia, ke semina dibai enggau jari nuju orang nya, tang chara diatu moden agi ari nya.

“Chara nyadung dadah tau dibai nengah kurier sereta nyual nengah laman rama ti tebal dipejalai nengah chara nya. Chara kami mutarka pekara tu enda tau enda professionyel mega lalu ukai semina ngarapka PEMADAM, Narkotik tauka AADK tang saup ari mensia mayuh. Dunya udah majak berubah,” ku iya.

Jasamu Sentiasa Dihargai - Datuk Hajah Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Haji Fauzi

Read here.

Ubat batuk 'dadah murah'

February 25, 2015

KETAGIH ... Ubat batuk dan selsema dikenal pasti sebagai 'dada murah' yang menjadi tumpuan penagih dadah kurang berkemampuan.

KUCHING: Ubat batuk dan selesema dikenalpasti sebagai 'dadah murah' yang menjadi tumpuan penagih dadah daripada kalangan orang kurang berkemampuan.

Pengerusi Dadah Malaysia (PEMADAM) Sarawak Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah mendedah perkara itu kerana, pengambilan dan pembelian kedua-dua ubat berkenaan dilakukan tanpa pengawasan yang ketat.

"Kedua-dua ubat ini boleh didapati dengan mudah di kedai-kedai ubat dan farmasi.

Orang kurang berkemampuan yang menjadi penagih tetapi tidak mampu membeli dadah seperti syabu, ganja, heroin sebagainya akan membeli ubat batuk dan selesema itu bagi melepaskan rasa ketagih.

"Ini kerana pengambilan ubat batuk dan selesema yang berlebihan boleh menyebabkan individu berkenaan berkhayal, seterusnya ketagih," tegasnya ketika dalam sidan media di sini, hari ini.

Menurut Karim, mestipun, 'keseronokkan dadah murah' tersebut agak kurang berbanding dadah lain, namun ia menjadi sumber dadah utama kepada penagih kurang berkemampuan.

"Sebenarnya, undang-undang memang dikenakan terhadap penjualan kedua-dua ubat berkenaan di pusat-pusat farmasi dan kedai ubat, namun ia tidak tegas dan terdapat juga pusat mengabaikan undang-undang berkenaan," jelasnya.

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.

Hapuskan dadah siber

February 25, 2015

PERANGI DADAH: Abdul Karim (dua kiri) menerima dokumen terima tugas daripada Sharifah Mordiah pada majlis tersebut.

KUCHING: Media sosial seperti Facebook (FB) didapati sebagai saluran terbaharu untuk menjual dan membeli dadah di Sarawak.

Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, kegiatan yang menyalahgunakan teknologi itu perlu dibanteras sebelum semakin parah dan menular dalam kalangan masyarakat.

“Kita mendapati ada indiividu yang menggunakan FB sebagai saluran menjual dan mendapatkan dadah.

“Tetapi setakat ini, ia belum di tahap bermaharajalela lagi kerana polis memantau rapi kegiatan tersebut,” ujarnya pada sidang media selepas majlis serah terima tugas Pengerusi Persatuan Mencegah Dadah Malaysia (PEMADAM) di sini, semalam.

Majlis itu menyaksikan Abdul Karim tampil sebagai Pengerusi PEMADAM Sarawak baharu bagi menggantikan Datuk Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Fauzi yang telah menyandang jawatan itu hampir 30 tahun.

Turut hadir, Ketua Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Narkotik (JSJN) Sarawak Superintenden Lucas Aket dan Pengarah Agensi Anti Dadah Kebangsaan (AADK) Sarawak Wan Madihi Wan Salleh.

Abdul Karim turut menyeru sesiapa yang mempunyai maklumat mengenai aktiviti haram itu agar menghubungi pihak berkuasa.

Regulate sale of ‘poor man’s drugs’ to prevent abuse

February 25, 2015

Karim receives his official letter as Pemadam state chair from his predecessor Datuk Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Fauzi. Lukas is at left while AADK state director Wan Madihi Wan Salleh is at third left.

KUCHING: The sale of ‘poor man’s drugs’ need to be regulated to prevent their abuse.

Newly-elected Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam) state chair Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this is because such substances are cheaper and easier to access than designer drugs.

“The government is actually looking at ways to control substance abuse. Other common forms of substance abuse are glue sniffing, which is quite rampant in Sarawak,” the Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Urban Areas) told reporters yesterday.

“I am not pointing fingers, but drug stores or pharmacies should not sell these substances (such as Nospan and cough medicine) to anyone without a doctor’s diagnosis letter or sell it in a very large quantity.”

Nospan (dextromethorphan HBr) and cough medicines, which contain codeine or promethazine, are widely sold at pharmacies, but can cause hallucinations if abused through excessive use.

Through the abuse of these substances, users are more likely to progress to an advanced stage of drug experimentation and addiction on designer drugs such as ecstasy, syabu, methamphetamine and Erimin-5.

Karim pointed out that the enactment of such regulations comes under the federal government.

Kes dadah di Sarawak pemadu mimit di Malaysia

February 25, 2015

KUCHING: Ulah salah guna dadah di Sarawak entara ke pengabis mimit dibanding enggau menua bukai di Malaysia.

Kepala Opis Narkotik, Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) Supt Lukas Aket madah, Sarawak entara menua ke pengabis mimit betapi enggau penanggul makai dadah, iya nya ba tangga lumur tiga ari baruh di Malaysia.

Di Malaysia ku iya, menua ke pengabis mayuh, iya nya Selangor, Pulau Pinang enggau Johor.

“Sarawak ba tangga lumur tiga pengabis baruh dibanding enggau menua bukai di semenanjung. Enti nitih statistik sida ke ditangkap ketegal kes dadah dalam taun 2014, urung 5,237 iku ke lalu dirintai ari baruh bekal, ngempu sereta peresa ai kemi.

“Tang enti dibanding enggau pemayuh dalam taun 2013, penyampau ke ditangkap manggai 4,248 iku. Enti diperatika taun 2013 enggau 2014, taun 2014 bisi nambah,” ku Lukas seraya madahka bengkah dadah ke seruran dikena, iya nya bepanggai ba trend dadah maya nya tang diatu mayuh ke makai ‘Designer’s Drug’ (DD) baka Syabu, Ecstasy, Eramin 5 sereta sekeda bansa DD bukai.

Ari statistik ejensi Anti-Dadah Kebangsaan (AADK), Direktor opis nya, Wan Madehi madahka ti dijaga AADK diatu bisi 614 iti kes baruh Seksyen 61 (B) enggau 38 (B), lalu ari pemayuh nya, 175 iti kes dijaga di CCRC Kuching, 227 iti kes baruh Seksyen Dikemata lalu laluh nya, 122 iti kes asil ditangkap polis Narkotik baruh Seksyen 28(B).

Sebedau nya, ba atur pengawa Aum Khas Komiti Pengatur PEMADAM Menua Sarawak beserimbai enggau ‘Jasamu Dikenang ke ex-chairman PEMADAM Menua Sarawak, Datuk Hajah Sharifah Mordiah Tuanku Fauzi’ bela digulu Menteri Muda Pemansang Nembiak (Nengeri) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, ti dipilih nyadi Chairman PEMADAM Nengeri Sarawak nganti endur Sharifah Mordiah ke udah 28 taun lebih mangku pengawa nya, ba sebengkah atur pengawa ti digaga di sebuah hotel ditu, kemari.

Halt the drug scourge

September 15, 2014

“Many drug users are from the younger generation because of peer influence and trend." -Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

Agency: 7 out of every 10 drug addicts caught in Malaysia last year aged between 19 and 39

SIBU: Loud calls for more educational and youth-related programmes are ringing across the country as drug abuse is ensnaring a huge number of youths.

In the first 11 months of last year, of the 7,078 drug addicts rounded up, 4,893 – or 69.13 per cent – were individuals aged between 19 and 39.

According to the National Anti-Drugs Agency’s (AADK), friends had influenced 2,929 of these 7,078 drug addicts, or 42.88 per cent, to get hooked on drugs.

Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) vice chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye urged the Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam) to implement more educational programmes as the bulk of drug addicts were youths.

“The answer to this drug problem is actually prevention. Unless and until you can mount an effective prevention programme, you will be just ‘fire-fighting’ all the time.

“More importantly, is the prevention programme (effective) to stop people from getting hooked on drugs? This is the most practical way, and it requires a concerted effort,” Lee told The Borneo Post.

Lee said sporting activities were also effective in keeping youths from being lured into taking drugs.