SINTOK: Welfare Department (JKM) will execute intervention action on families found to have neglected their children, including exposing them to drug abuse.
Its director general, Mohd Fazari Mohd Salleh said the department would exercise the action, considered as the last resort, if it failed to find suitable guardian to protect the children from negative influences.
He said although drug preventive measures falls under the National Anti-Drug Agency (NADA), JKM can also steps in if it involved minor addicts as part of an effort to save them.
“Family plays an important role to make sure children are safe from any negative influences.
“But if there is no suitable guardian to care for the minor then we will intervene,” he told reporters after attending the department executive certificate presentation ceremony to staff from JKM and Prison Department at a hotel here today.
A total of 117 graduates from the two departments received the certificate from Universiti Utara Malaysia vice chancellor Datuk Seri Prof Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak.
Present was JPM deputy commissioner general (management) Datuk Jamaluddin Saad.
Fazari also said that the department would provide counselling services nationwide for children found to be involved in drug-related problems.
“We also hope that social support system from the community will make sure cases such as children being neglected and minor junkies can be curbed.
“We cannot work alone and support from the community is vital for us to tackle the issues,” he said.
It was reported that Nada Kedah made a startling discovery last Thursday when they visited seven siblings believed to be battling with drug addiction in Desa Keda, Kampung Bukit here.
What was truly shocking was the fact that the youngest sibling in the family, a 10-year-old boy, also tested positive for drugs.
It was also reported that the Year Four boy believed to have picked up the bad habit after being influenced by his four older brothers and two sisters aged between 16 and 30.
Checks showed that the boy had been schooling at a boarding school in Padang Terap but returned to the house recently to stay with his siblings.
The state Welfare Department had sent him to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital for further check-up and treatment.