KUALA LUMPUR : The government is set to review existing laws on drugs in the country.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who chaired the inaugural Cabinet Committee Meeting on Combating Drug Abuse (JKMD) today, said the existing laws would need to be reviewed to plug any possible loopholes.
"We wish to examine the laws which previously had been tightened, yet we observe lingering loopholes that require further reinforcement for effective enforcement.
"I wish to extend my gratitude to the police, particularly the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department, the National Anti-Drug Agency, the Customs Department, and the Health Ministry for their coordination in these endeavors.
"We anticipate that this cabinet committee will receive fresh insights by mid-Syawal for implementation, ensuring the efficacy of our decisions made today," he said in a press conference after the meeting.
Zahid said the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry had been invited to the meeting for a special discussion on the status of the E-Commerce Platform Supervision Bill (Undang-undang Kawal Selia Platform e-Dagang).
"The bill will further strengthen control and enforcement powers to curb online drug sales, especially through e-commerce platforms," he added.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said the sales of drugs via online platforms are a new threat that needs to be addressed.
"In today's meeting we received a presentation on whether drugs are being sold on social media and the answer is yes.
"So it has been discussed and the domestic trade ministry has been given the responsibility to examine all relevant acts pertaining to e-commerce.
"(The sale of drugs online) is a new threat so there is a need for the committee to review the current laws," he said.
The ministry has kicked off the study, and they will subsequently propose the needed amendments to the committee, Saifuddin added.
"We need to be a step further. We never had this problem before but now we have a new threat.
"Now we have vape liquid laced with drugs and they are using social media (to sell it).
"This was discussed and deliberated in length in today's meeting," he said.
Also in the meeting today were Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman said.