KUALA LUMPUR: An anti-crime watchdog has urged authorities to prioritise prevention strategies and raise awareness about drug abuse among police.
Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation senior vice-chairman Datuk Seri Ayub Yaakob said it was important to prioritise rehabilitation and prevention rather than focusing on arrests and investigations.
"Prevention should come before investigation.
"We must focus on preventing crimes before investigating, prosecuting and convicting.
"Prevention, awareness, education, supervision and mentoring are essential.
"There should also be funding allocated for prevention and education," he told the New Straits Times.
On Tuesday, the NST revealed that in the past decade, 505 police officers had lost their jobs due to drug addiction and another 50 officers and 581 cops of other ranks were disciplined for drug use.
Ayub, a former director in the force, said prevention and education programmes should move beyond schools to include enforcement agencies, adding that more counsellors should be recruited as part of the effort.
He said drug addiction in the force could contribute to higher crime and allow drug syndicates to flourish.
"As an authority, it is our duty to ensure there are no drug smuggling, selling, distribution and processing.
"If we use our power to prioritise our interests and protect these pushers, we are colluding with criminals and syndicates."
Ayub said though only about 50 officers were affected in a year out of 130,000, this could affect public perception.
"If people see police officers as drug addicts, it changes the narrative.
"Taking action is crucial. There will always be a few bad apples, and this reflects broader humanitarian concerns.
"It's a test not just for drug users, but also for their supervisors, the team and the system."