ALOR STAR: Social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye today issued a heartfelt plea for politicians from all ideologies to unite and speak up against the drug menace, which has reached a critical stage.
Lee, who is the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) senior vice-chairman, said it was time for politicians to put aside their differences and unite in the war against drugs before it destroyed the country.
He feared that unless and until there was a total, united commitment by everyone including all politicians, the nation would lose out in the drug war.
"It is my wish to see all political parties share the same platform to speak in one voice against drug abuse because throughout my work as an activist so far, I have yet to come across any platform where opposition and government-elected representatives stand together and speak up against drug abuse.
"The issue is serious. I fear that this problem will eventually destroy our future generations and economy," he told reporters after attending a "Healthy Life Without Drug Abuse" programme at Taman Setia Jaya, here.
Present was state police chief Datuk Asri Yusoff.
Lee stressed that his message was directed at all politicians.
"It is my hope to see political parties lend their support to any programme to create awareness on drug abuse.
"To me, they should give the impression to the people that they don't see it as a political issue, but a national issue instead," he said.
On a similar note, Lee urged parents to discard the “denial syndrome” if their child or anyone in their family became a drug addict.
He said they should immediately seek help from relevant agencies such as the National Anti-Drugs Agency (Nada) for consultation and treatment.
"Parents should stop being in denial syndrome, claiming that their child is fine, that there is no problem but in reality, they are suffering as there is no peace in any family which has a drug addict.
"Just imagine, if there is a drug addict in the family, their valuables and belongings are stolen and sold by the child, so there will be no peace in the family and this will eventually affect the community," he said.
Lee was commenting on the incident involving a junkie who was arrested by members of the public when he beat up his wife and son before a large crowd at a market in Sungai Petani yesterday morning.
It was reported that the man became aggressive after he failed to snatch his wife’s handbag when the woman, in her 30s, was walking with their 3-year-old son at the market.
Checks showed that the man, also in his 30s, had been arrested several times before for behaving aggressively towards his family members when under the influence of drug.
Kedah Nada director Mahadzir Elias was reported as saying that the man, considered as a hardcore addict, was tested tested positive for methamphetamine and marijuana when he was nabbed yesterday.