Child Drug Crisis Critical, Enforcement Alone Not Enough - Lee Lam Thye

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- The alarming revelation that children as young as 10 years old are involved in drug abuse highlights the urgent need to prioritise prevention rather than relying solely on enforcement, said chairman of the Alliance for a Safe Community, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

He said the disclosure by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in a recent exclusive interview with Bernama reflects the critical state of the drug problem in Malaysia, which has now begun to ensnare children at a stage when they should be focused on school and family.

“Drug abuse is no longer an issue confined to adults or teenagers. It’s now affecting children at an age when they should be in school, playing, and building their future. They should be in a safe environment under the care and supervision of their parents or guardians.

“This situation demands urgent attention and a stronger response from all quarters – government, enforcement agencies, schools, parents and the community at large. We must acknowledge that enforcement alone is not enough. Prevention must be the top priority,” he said in a statement today.

Lee said comprehensive drug education must begin early in schools and be supported by community-based programmes that raise awareness among parents and young people about the dangers of drugs.

“At the same time, accessible counselling and rehabilitation services must be strengthened to ensure no child is left behind once identified as at risk.

“Equally important, society must play its role in creating a safe environment for our children – free from the influence of drug pushers and syndicates who prey on the young,” he said.

He stressed that stronger collaboration between authorities and communities is essential to protect children from this menace.

Lee also emphasised that the drug crisis is not just a law enforcement problem but a national social issue.

“If children as young as 10 are already trapped in addiction, then our future is at stake. We must act now, decisively and collectively, to stop this crisis before it claims an entire generation,” he added.

-- BERNAMA