KUALA LUMPUR: The proposal to ban the growing of ketum and introduce the Inhalants Act is timely as it could help tackle the misuse of the plant and combat glue sniffing menace respectively.
Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) senior vice chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the foundation had previously called for the amendment of the Poisons Act 1952 by transferring the offence on misusing ketum leaves to an offence under the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952 to curb its abuse.
“It was reported that in September last year, the authorities were clamping down on the consumption and sale of ketum leaves by proposing to increase fines by up to 10 times and imposing a longer jail sentence on offenders under the Poisons Act 1952.
“Since the government has withdrawn the Bill to amend the DDA, which was to make ketum leaves a ‘dangerous drugs’ and the penalties on par with the offences involving ganja, it is necessary to ensure that the penalties under the Poisons Act 1952 (revised 1989) be increased further,” he said in a statement today.
Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stated yesterday that growing of ketum, scientifically known as mitragyna speciosa, in Malaysia should be banned before its use becomes widespread.
Speaking to reporters after chairing a committee meeting with the National Anti-Drugs Agency and law enforcement agencies, Muhyiddin said although ketum is known to be abused by drug users, the plant is not classified as a dangerous drug in the country.
Lee said ketum is used as a painkiller as well as an energy booster in Malaysia but its abuse can lead to addiction.
“We must accept the fact that ketum abuse is rampant in Malaysia and firm action must be taken to help ensure the safety and security of the people from ketum addiction.
“Based on studies, ketum could give ‘high’ effects similar to opiates and those who took it at higher dose could pose danger to others,” he pointed out.
It was reported that more than 14,000 people have been arrested for ketum abuse since 2015 and large tracts of land, particularly in the northern states, were planted with the trees.
He said as for the proposed Inhalant Act, all parties should support the new legislation as it could help the authorities curb glue sniffing menace among the people.
“Reports show that a majority of glue sniffers are teenagers. With stricter enforcement and new legislations that provide higher penalties, I am confident that the authorities could bring down the number of ketum abuse and glue sniffing cases, especially among the young generation,” he added.
Several countries had already banned ketum including Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Australia, Finland, Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, Romania and Sweden.