SIBU: The number of Orang Kena Pengawasan (OKP) or individuals under supervision by the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) for drugs here has shown an increase so far this year compared to the same period last year.
According to Sibu District Officer Khalid Andong, based on the statistics from the Sibu District AADK, the number of OKP as of May 2024 is 204 people.
He said that the number has risen sharply compared to the same period in 2023, which recorded only 138 people.
“Meanwhile, the number of arrests for drug dealers and drug addicts is 39 and 352 people, respectively, as of May 2024, based on the latest statistics from the Sibu Criminal Investigation Department,” he said.
He said this in his welcoming speech during the opening ceremony of Sibu District Drug-Free Action Plan workshop which was officiated by Minister of Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah here today (June 19).
Khalid also said that the trend of drug abuse has shifted – from conventional plant-based drugs such as marijuana, morphine, and heroin, it has now moved towards more harmful synthetic drugs.
“Also worrying is the increasing demand for synthetic drugs like Methamphetamine and the emergence of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in the Asian market.
“More concerning, hundreds of new psychoactive substances have now appeared worldwide. If the issue of drug misuse is not tackled comprehensively by all parties, it will lead to greater harm to the country in the future,” he added.
He stressed that efforts to tackle the drug problem and other social issues cannot be addressed by the government alone.
Instead, he said, it requires support from all parties including the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the community.
“The time has come for all of us to take responsibility together to combat the issue of drug misuse in our country,” he said.
Also present was Sibu Resident Abang Mohamad Porkan Abang Budiman.
