BALIK PULAU: The Health Ministry has no plan to use the 'Mitragyna Speciosa' plant, better known as ketum, as a painkiller or to treat drug addiction although its structure and molecule is proven similar to morphine.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said this was due to the widespread abuse of the ketum, which resulted in numerous side effects.
He said the side effects were similar to a morphine addict, affecting the heart and immunisation system of a person, besides causing the skin to turn yellow and pale.
"The ministry has proposed to review the Poisons Act 1952 used to monitor activities related to ketum, by adding a restriction to the commericial planting of the ketum plant, next year. It is currently in the final stage and we expect to table it in Parliament in the next sitting.
"Leeway will however be given to researchers to plant the ketum but they must first obtain approval directly from the ministry.
"We reiterate our stand that there is no plan to use the ketum as a medication," he told newsmen today.
He was met after presenting school aid to some 200 students during the "Back to School" programme organised by Tenaga Nasional Bhd.
On Thursday, researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) said they were studying the possibility of using ketum as a painkiller or to treat drug addiction.
Led by Prof Dr Sharif Mahsuri Mansor, they had said that they were looking into developing a new medication against systemic bacteria infection, which was common among HIV-infected drug users.
Sharif had also said that ketum had the potential to replace methadone to treat drug addiction, but stressed that there was no clinical test and scientific data to prove that its usage was safe.
In Malaysia ketum, known as daun biak or biak biak, has traditionally been used to treat cough, diarrhoea, skin infection, pain relief and opium withdrawal syndrome.
In 2003, ketum was placed under the Poisons Act 1952. In Thailand, Myanmar and Australia ketum comes under their respective Narcotics Act.