KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to strengthen the mechanism in the war against drugs as its sales allegedly go rampant in the country.
Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) said: "Drugs such as methamphetamine are the most persistent drug, with so many addicts in Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu.
"I also observed that this type of drug is sold like 'pisang goreng' (banana fritters), which can be bought at every corner with just RM30.
"I wonder where this (the drug) came from and where our enforcement officers, such as the anti-drug agency and police, are.
"We have declared drugs as the nation's number-one enemy and this means that we need to fight (the war against drugs) on a large scale and it must be done comprehensively," he said in Dewan Rakyat today.
Bung Moktar said this during his debate on the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) 2024 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
The bill, which was tabled for the second reading in the Lower House yesterday, is currently being debated by 21 members of parliament.
At the same time, Bung added that comprehensive enforcement actions through the bill must be implemented to ensure that the drug addiction problem in the country was thoroughly addressed.
Aside from focusing on treating addicts, the government must also ensure that such individuals gain skills to secure job opportunities after undergoing rehabilitation.
"Hundreds of people have become addicts and we send them to prisons, leaving them with no future.
"We should establish more rehabilitation centres and maybe set up vocational training schools for those who have been treated.
"Let's not implement a half-hearted system where (we feel) it is enough (to address drug addiction problems) with only an Act and no follow-up actions to ensure good planning."