KUALA LUMPUR: The government is looking at enhancing the capacity of the Health Ministry's pathology laboratories to ensure efficiency in processing drug-related cases for court proceedings.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Cabinet Committee Meeting on Combating Drug Abuse, in a meeting today, had principally agreed with the Health Ministry's proposal to enhance their pathology laboratories at a cost of RM230 million.
The budget, however, will be subjected to allocation by the Finance Ministry and the implementation phase will be for 10 years.
Zahid said to date, the Health Ministry only has eight pathology labs with outdated equipment, which could disrupt the process of verifying drugs for court proceedings.
"The proposal involves upgrading eight drug laboratories in Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak.
"We will also establish six new drug laboratories in Pahang, Perak, Selangor, Melaka, Sabah and Sarawak.
"The increased capacity will have a positive impact on the smooth handling of drug-related cases by the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department, the police and the healthcare system," he said in a press conference after chairing the committee's inaugural meeting.
Zahid added: "A new narrative for the Communication Plan to Combat Drug Abuse is necessary, considering how it delivers effective impact to the audience at a minimal cost.
"This is due to the increasing trends in drug abuse and addiction profiles and illicit substances from 2021 to last year in each state.
"The Anti-Drug Campaign will be implemented from this year to next year with a focus on the goal of 'Better Prevention' with the message 'Drug prevention starts at home' and using the tagline 'Don't Want, Don't Need'."