THE frequent drug busts at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and elsewhere either by police and the Customs Department involving syndicates attempting to smuggle drugs into the country or using Malaysia as a transit point for the lucrative drug trade is a cause for concern.
According to Police Narcotics Department director, Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim, from 2011 to July this year the value of cash and assets confiscated from drug traffickers totalled RM215 million.
This year alone, RM38 million worth of cash and assets of drug traffickers were confiscated from January to July.
Judging by the exposure, arrests and seizure of drugs it would appear that the issue in the country is endless and what has been uncovered so far by the authorities is just a tip of the iceberg.
The problem has a serious impact on internal security and public safety as a whole. Many drug-related crimes have led to traumatic experiences for many Malaysians.
It appears that the spectre of a death sentence has not deterred people from getting involved in the nefarious drug trade.
All flights into the country carry a message that Malaysia has very stringent anti-drug laws which provide for the mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking if proven guilty.
It is time for the government to review existing laws, particularly the mandatory death penalty and why it has not been a sufficient deterrent to drug traffickers.
Looking at the drug problem today, Malaysia cannot be drug-free by next year in accordance with the Asean declaration made some years ago.
The government needs to revisit the various legislation related to the drug issue and take whatever necessary steps to boost the fight against the number one enemy in the country.
Drug and substance abuse has been the major cause of crime and many other social ills and unless we take effective action to address the problem, we will never be able to win the war against drugs.
The drug problem is also related to demand and supply. Therefore, we have to work towards demand reduction through more effective counselling and prevention programmes focusing on family, schools and workplaces.
We also need to emphasise the importance of education and dissemination of noble values.
Equally important is to strengthen our rehabilitation programmes and provide employment opportunities to rehabilitated drug addicts.
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye,Vice-chairman Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation