PADANG BESAR: The National Anti-Drugs Agency (Nada) wants a proportionate form of law that could replace the death penalty if it is to be abolished for drug offences.
Nada director-general Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah said the onus was on the government to seriously study about penalties that could commensurate with the existing death penalty.
He said that abolishing the death penalty, especially for serious drug-related offences, would be big step as the punishment has been implemented for such a long time.
“Not all crimes related to drug abuse will be given the death sentence.
“However, if the death penalty is abolished, there must be a proportionate punishment that is meted out against those involved in the drug trade,” said Zulkifli when met at the Bukit Chabang Cure and Care Rehabilitation Center (CCRC) here today.
He was responding to a statement made by the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who confirmed that the government was still looking into whether it would maintain or abolish the death penalty.
Among other things, Dr Wan Azizah had explained that the reason for the abolishment of the death penalty was to ensure that no innocent victims would be sent to the gallows.
Zulkifli said that Nada believed the government was seriously looking into the issue in its entirety and it will find a sentence that would commensurate with the existing penalties for drug-related offences.
“We hope that whatever the decision made by the government, it will continue to help Nada in curbing crimes related to drug abuse,” he said.
When commenting on reports that Perlis has the fourth highest number of drug-related offences, Zulkifli said one of the main factors is the state’s proximity to the Thai border.
“Areas near the fishing villages in Kuala Perlis are amongst four areas that are red zones for these offences, in addition to Kangar, Arau and Simpang Empat.
“Drug dealers in these areas target the population where the majority of them work in the farming and fishing sectors.
“When they are tired from the heavy work, their outlet is drugs. That is why the drug dealers focus on these areas,” he explained.