MOHAMMAD Khairuddin Aziz, or better known as Khai Aziz, has a one-track mind. And it's not a bad thing at all. "I want you to write about my drug-free initiatives," he tells me on WhatsApp.
Not long after, he asks plainly: "Can you help me?" He's insistent that I focus my writing on these topics as they're all he wants to talk about. "There's so much to be done," he remarks, earnestly.
When he starts to speak, it's as if a microphone has been unmuted, unleashing a torrent of information. The urgency in his voice isn't only palpable, but entirely justified given the grim data at hand.
In a startling revelation, drug addiction cases surged by 27 per cent in the first half of last year, climbing to 118,820 from the 93,534 reported during the same period the previous year.
Sutekno Ahmad Belon, the director-general of the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), described this increase as alarming, especially noting that over half of these cases involved young adults and teenagers.
"Last year, we recorded more than 137,000 drug addicts, with 65 per cent of that total comprising youths and teenagers," he stated, highlighting a concerning trend among the younger demographic.
The idea of facing these numbers now that we're at the start of 2024 is worrying. With drug addiction already rising among young people last year, the fear is these figures could climb even higher. It shows how crucial it is to step up prevention, education and support now to stop this trend from escalating.
Khai Aziz nods grimly and echoes the gravity of the situation, emphasising: "Drugs are a problem that affects everyone. There are no inherently bad kids, just those who are lost. This is where the Drug Free Malaysia Association (DFMA) steps in to make a difference."
The 45-year-old frontman of the punk rock band Second Combat established the association with a clear purpose: to offer young people a different way to live without drugs by getting them involved in music and extreme sports. This approach aims to keep the youth away from dangerous behaviours and social issues.
His activism is deeply personal.
He falls silent for a bit. Then, after a pause, he sighs, revealing: "I know firsthand the struggle of steering clear of unhealthy habits. At just 13, I began smoking, drinking, and even experimented with drugs. But I turned my life around and left all that behind."
MATTERS OF THE HEART
Khai Aziz has also experienced firsthand the destructive impact of drugs on individuals and their loved ones. "I've seen the pain of families torn apart by drug addiction," he says quietly, adding: "I've been through this myself."
Growing up in Kampung Jawa, Klang, his personal battle against drugs was significantly influenced by witnessing his eldest brother, Mohd Azhar's struggle with substance abuse. "Part of my passion for hardcore punk music came from my brother who was an incredible guitar player," he reveals.
They were close enough because they shared a love for music. "I'd always wanted to be a singer," he shares, smiling. "I looked up to my brother because he was already in the music scene and he was also a very talented singer."
Khai Aziz was just 17, when he witnessed his brother fall into heroin addiction. "He got involved with the wrong people and made poor decisions, obviously. Watching him transform into someone I hardly recognised, consumed by drugs, was heartbreaking," he explains, voice laden with emotion.
Did you talk to him or try to stop him? I ask, and he shakes his head, morosely. "How could I?" he asks. "I didn't have the power to do that. He was eight years older than me. He wouldn't have listened. But witnessing his life was a pivotal point for me. I hated drugs and what they did to my brother!"
After multiple stints in rehabilitation, his brother began the arduous journey of piecing his life back together, a task fraught with challenges. "Once you're labelled as a drug addict, it's like your past shadows you. It becomes this massive hurdle because people struggle to see beyond it," Khai Aziz laments.
Understanding the importance of peer support and purpose, he encouraged Azhar to join him in speaking against drug abuse at schools. Their goal was to warn students not to dabble in drugs and inspire them to achieve something in their young lives.
"He said he wished to be a speaker like me and I saw that as an opportunity for him to make a positive impact and regain his self-esteem. I stressed that he shouldn't focus on his past drug use in the talks, but rather, motivate the students to stay drug-free. I really wanted to give him a chance to rebuild his dreams," he explains.
Despite staying clean for eight years, Azhar found it incredibly difficult to rebuild his life. Living in Kelantan, he tried various jobs, including working as a petrol station attendant and security guard to provide for his family.
However, time and again, he was terminated once employers learnt about his history. "It was a constant source of frustration for him," Khai Aziz acknowledges. This cycle of rejection and disappointment finally took a toll on his brother and caused him to fall back to his drug habit.
One of their final conversations was particularly heart-wrenching. Azhar expressed despair over not being able to secure stable employment to support his wife and children. "He asked if he could spend time with me," the punk rock musician recalls with sorrow evident in his voice. Tragically, his brother couldn't escape the grip of his addiction and died a broken man in 2015 at the age of 43.
Another turning point happened in 2010 when he and his aunt journeyed to a fishing village to save a little girl from being sold by her drug-addict father. "Seeing that really made me want to fight harder to keep kids away from drugs," he shares grimly.
BEING STRAIGHT-EDGED
The smiling, outspoken man is content to be the very picture of punk rock defiance, but with a twist — he's rebelling against the scene's notorious stereotype of drugs and excess. Opting for a "straight edge" lifestyle, Khai Aziz avoids alcohol, nicotine and illegal drugs, presenting an alternative punk ethos.
He's been walking the talk ever since he was 19. "Straight edge taught me I could love music and punk rock without the need for drugs and other vices. It completely changed my perspective," he elaborates, adding: "So, I shifted from being a risky youth who wanted to try these things, to embracing a clean lifestyle and using my music to spread positivity. Having also witnessed the devastating harm drugs can cause, I was determined to help as many people as possible."
Drawing inspiration from that "straight edged" philosophy adopted by certain punk communities in the West, he established an anti-drug movement in Klang through music and skateboarding.
Straight edge — abstinence from alcohol, drugs, nicotine, and in some cases promiscuous sex — is a self-imposed label that alienated young punks, nerds and other outcasts have chosen for themselves for more than four decades, starting in the early 1980s and continuing through today.
Khai Aziz explains that straight-edge youths were often identified by the letter X, a symbol commonly found on their clothing or drawn on the backs of their hands.
This practice originated from a time before wristbands were used, when bouncers at bars and clubs would mark underage individuals with an "X" to indicate they were not of legal age to drink. The "straight edge" movement itself was inspired by the 1981 song Straight Edge by the hardcore punk band Minor Threat.
However, the straight edge philosophy goes beyond merely rejecting the punk scene's notorious excess and hedonism. It represents a deeper commitment to a lifestyle that shuns the use of substances like alcohol and drugs as a crutch.
As the song by Minor Threat concludes: "Always gonna keep in touch, never want to use a crutch...", this ethos of self-reliance and sobriety has influenced hundreds of bands — including Khai Aziz's own band Second Combat — to carry forward the message of positive rebellion and the potential for change.
"Second Combat served as a platform for spreading positive messages to young people at every show we played. I wrote songs and lyrics that encouraged them to embrace a healthy lifestyle," he recalls.
FIGHTING ON
Khai Aziz's advocacy for the straight edge lifestyle has had a profound impact on music fans and artistes over the years, leading to a significant number of bands embracing this philosophy.
Initially, he influenced groups like Kids On The Move, Eleven, Last Minutes, Until The End and Channel-X to adopt the straight edge way of life.
As time has progressed, an increasing number of new bands, such as Touchdown, Homerun, Heart A Tack and X-kids, have also aligned themselves with this movement.
This wave of acceptance has spread to the underground music scene, with bands like Zero.O, Seven Eight Six, Skunkfix, On Your Side, Naratu, Thy Regiment, Heart A Tack and Strikeout, among others, embracing the straight edge philosophy.
His message has transcended borders, inspiring bands in Indonesia and the Philippines to follow suit, showcasing the widespread appeal and adoption of straight edge principles.
Despite shifting his attention and focus towards drug activism, music continues to play a central role in Khai Aziz's life. His commitment to this cause hasn't gone unnoticed, earning him another invitation to New York, where he'll be honoured with the World Drug-Free Ambassador award by the Foundation for a Drug-Free World — Americas Chapter next month.
During this prestigious event, his new song, Drug Free Me, which he co-created with American musician and composer Michael Zentner, is set to be officially unveiled. "We'll give the song to the drug-free movement to use it as their anthem," he says, pride lacing through his voice.
Khai Aziz is also setting the stage for a new and vibrant initiative aimed at empowering the younger generation called Straight Edge Youth (SEY). This movement focuses on equipping young people with essential knowledge and skills to make informed decisions regarding their physical, mental and emotional health. He's currently engaged in fundraising efforts to ensure this impactful programme can be rolled out in schools across the country.
"It's meant to provide information for kids so they understand the physical effects of substance abuse and tobacco. It also gives some skills to the children to resist the temptation to experiment and try these substances and to deal with peer pressure," he explains, adding soberly: "We haven't adequately taken a new generation and educated them on the dangers of drug abuse. It's time we did something about it."
"You too can be drug free
You can love yourself again
Go take your life back
It is not too late"
Khai Aziz's Drug Free Me anthem echoes with hope, offering a message of renewal and redemption for those entangled in the struggles of addiction. It's a song filled with optimism, envisioning a path forward for those seeking to escape the chains of drug use and embrace a brighter tomorrow.
"It's not too late," he repeats quietly. "I wish my brother understood that. I wish people gave him a second chance to rebuild his life."
Khai Aziz falls silent again, touched by recent sorrows. He lost his father six months ago, and then his mother, a month ago. "I think I inherited their compassion, my mum's especially. They've been my biggest inspirations throughout my journey," he says softly. He finds a bit of comfort in having cared for them before they passed. The loss is still fresh and deeply felt.
The work still goes on and he is resolute in fighting drug addiction here in Malaysia. "In my youth, punk music got me through some tough times," he insists, adding: "Being truly punk is to stand up for good. This isn't just my work now, it's really my life."
Like I said, Khai Aziz has a one-track mind. And his singular focus remains unshaken. He's here to steer young people from the perils of substance addiction and to give hope to those wanting to break free from the chains of dependency, showing them that there's light at the end of the tunnel.