Are the enforcement agencies inefficient in addressing drug problems - asked Abdul Karim

April 4, 2018

SIBU: The increase in the number of drug addicts nationwide remains a sad situation, despite Malaysia having one of the toughest laws to tackle this menace.

In view of this, the Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah believed that the government – especially those entrusted to address these problems – must do ‘some soul-searching on where things had gone wrong’.

The Borneo Post reported today, Abdul Karim, who is also National Association for Prevention of Drugs (Pemadam) Sarawak chairman, questioned: “Are the enforcement agencies inefficient in addressing this menace?

Belia 25-40 tahun banyak terlibat penyalahgunaan dadah: Karim

March 28, 2018

KUCHING: Golongan belia berusia 25 hingga 40 tahun adalah antara yang banyak terlibat dalam penyalahgunaan dadah pada 2017.

Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, mereka terdiri daripada penganggur dan yang ada pekerjaan.

“Pada tahun 2017, seramai 2,056 orang yang ditangkap akibat penyalahgunaan dadah adalah terdiri daripada mereka yang berusia 25 hingga 29 tahun.

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.

Sweeping Sarawak schools clean

13 Sep 2017

KUCHING: The National Association for the Prevention of Drugs (Pemadam) will carry out more random checks at Sarawak schools to combat drugs misuse among students.

State Pemadam chairman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the agency was collaborating with the police and other authorities in the operation that would include random drug test on students.

Abdul Karim, who is also the Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister, added that in the past year, 247 students were tested positive for drugs from the urine samples taken during the spot checks.

Drugs, alcohol and illegal racing still plague youths – Abdul Karim

June 11, 2017

Abdul Karim hands over contributions to recipients from welfare bodies. From left are Saribas assemblyman Mohd Razi Sitam and Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Snowdan Lawan.

KUCHING: Drug abuse, alcoholism, and illegal racing are social problems that continue to affect youths in the state.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said as such the ministry needs to ensure its programmes are relevant and current for the youths of today.

“Based on this year’s statistics from the Statistics Department, 42 per cent or almost half of Sarawak’s 2.7 million population are those listed within the youth category. We see this as a challenge because youths are the heartbeat and indicator of the nation’s future.

“This is because how our country turns out to become in the next 20 years from now, is dependent on how we treat our youths who are our next echelon of leaders. If they are well groomed, the country will be on course to become a developed one, but the country will be in disorder if the youths are getting involved in social problems,” he said launching Program Imarah Belia Ramadan on Friday.

Karim, who is also Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam) Sarawak chairman, said he is saddened that most drug abusers are youths, especially those who are Muslim and from the Malay community.

Abdul Karim: Everybody has roles to play in eradicating drug menace

April 29, 2017

SIBU: Enforcement agencies should not be left to shoulder all the responsibilities in eradicating drug abuse.

According to Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, it is everyone’s responsibility, especially the parents, to keep the negative influence away.

Abdul Karim, who is also the state chairman of the National Association for the Prevention of Drugs (Pemadam) said: “The community, including district officers (all DOs are the district Pemadam heads), schools, parents-teachers associations, village security and development committees (JKKKs), mosque, church and temple committees, political parties, youth movements, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and people’s elected representatives have roles to play.

“The people, especially the youths, need to be taught to hate drugs and see drug abuse as an evil deed that could destroy the community and the nation if left unchecked,” he said when contacted yesterday.

The Asajaya assemblyman was commenting on a recent disclosure, where a random urine test carried out by National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) Sarawak on 99 secondary students at four schools in Lawas between January and March this year, showed that 23 of them tested positive for drugs.

‘Users increasingly turning to cheaper synthetic drugs’

April 16, 2017

Abdul Karim (third right) watches a demonstration by a sniffer dog from the Canine Narcotics Unit of the Customs Department. Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman is at second right.

KUCHING: Drug abusers are increasingly turning to cheaper synthetic drugs such as methamphetamines.

Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said as such government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) battling drug addiction should not just focus on expensive drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

“These types of drugs are now very, very popular due to their relatively cheap prices. For me it is alarming as with these types of drugs being very cheap, more people will be able to buy them hence increasing the number of drug abusers and pushers in the country,” he said during a drug prevention programme at Taman Hussein/Rahmat yesterday.

Abdul Karim, who is also National Association for the Prevention of Drugs (Pemadam) state chairman, stressed the war on drugs must focus on cheaper synthetic drugs as well.

He called on villagers in the area to cooperate with the local authorities particularly on youth development and drug prevention.

Karim: Need to revisit effectiveness of anti-drug strategies

March 28, 2017

SIBU: The increasing number of drug addicts in the country has prompted calls to revisit the effectiveness of existing strategies, programmes and activities to curtail drug abuse.

According to National Anti-Drugs Agency’s (AADK) statistics, 22,643 new addicts were detected in the country last year compared to 20,289 new addicts detected in 2015.

In 2014, there were 13,605 new addicts detected nationwide.

“Based on statistics, the number of drug addicts in the country seems to be on the rise and this is bad news.

“I do believe there is a need for a revisit on the effectiveness of existing strategies, programmes, activities and especially enforcement in our fight against drug abuse,” Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Abdul Karim: Wiping out drug menace should be concern of all

March 24, 2017

SIBU: Eradicating the drug menace requires the concerted efforts of everyone in society, Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said.

Stating that drug abuse is not associated with a particular race or age group, he also said the menace affects all strata of society and not only those in the urban areas.

“It should not be left entirely to the relevant enforcement agencies, schools or non-governmental organisations (NGOs),” he emphasised.

Abdul Karim is the state chairman of National Association for the Prevention of Drugs (Pemadam).

Stampin MP Julian Tan recently called for the police to address cases of drug-related activities in schools, claiming that there were increasing drug cases infiltrating schools and involving students.

Enforcement against drug offences in Limbang gets thumbs-up from Abdul Karim

March 18, 2017

KUCHING: An assistant minister has commended enforcement agencies in Limbang for taking firm steps in tackling the drug menace in the division.

According to Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, people from both political divides have been ‘barking’ about the drug problem in the division for years, but there has always been a lukewarm response stating that there is no serious problem.

“I’m glad that the enforcement agencies are finally making drug arrests in Limbang. 

Both sides of the political divide have been ‘barking’ about this (drug problem) for many years, but the response has always been lukewarm; that there was no serious problem of drugs there. 

Now it seems that it’s not so,” said Abdul Karim – also the state chairman of National Association for the Prevention of Drugs (Pemadam) – when contacted yesterday.

Get rid of negative mindset on blue-collar jobs — Abdul Karim

December 9, 2016

Abdul Karim (left) receiving a memento from Syeed Mohd during the event held at Centex Kuching, Jalan Sultan Tengah.

KUCHING: Youths in Sarawak should not have the mindset that only white-collar jobs offer lucrative salaries.

In fact, blue-collar jobs are fast replacing white-collar jobs in terms of paying lucrative salaries.

This was revealed by Youth and Sports Assistant Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in his speech during the launch of ‘Program Cekal: IPT Bebas Dadah’ at Centre of Technical Excellence (Centex) at Jalan Sultan Tengah here yesterday.

The event was jointly organised by Sarawak Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam) and Centex.

Centex CEO Syeed Mohd Hussien Wan Abdul Rahman and other officials were present.

“In certain developed countries like South Korea, blue-collar jobs are much more lucrative than white-collar jobs,” Abdul Karim pointed out.

“After visiting a few developed countries, I came to the conclusion that blue-collar jobs are more in demand by most youths there as they pay better. I hope youths in our country, especially in Sarawak, get to see this become a reality soon,” he said.