KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak will continue to bolster its strategic cooperation with Bukit Aman’s Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) to combat drug abuse and illicit substances in the state.
Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, said the close collaboration between the two parties is expected to further enhance enforcement and intervention efforts in tackling the increasingly challenging drug threat.
“The NCID’s success in a series of large-scale drug arrests and seizures nationwide, including in Sarawak, reflects the efficiency, firmness and commitment of the team, which in turn boosts public confidence in the authorities’ capability,” she said during a courtesy call on NCID Director, Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, at Bukit Aman here on Tuesday.
Fatimah said that aside from NCID’s Drug Supply Reduction (DSR) strategy, the National Anti-Drugs Strategic Plan (MIDS) also emphasises Drug Demand Reduction (DDR), which covers awareness, prevention, treatment and holistic rehabilitation.
“Starting this year, NCID Sarawak will also be involved in the Integrated Enforcement and Intervention Programme for Drug-Restricted Districts under the OSC MIDS.
“The initiative combines enforcement with referrals of urine-positive cases to the One-Stop Centre for Addiction (OSCA) and National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) district offices for treatment and rehabilitation while awaiting prosecution,” she added.
Currently, 25 OSCAs are operating at selected health clinics in Sarawak, managed by the State Health Department, providing voluntary community-based treatment and rehabilitation services.
On another note, Fatimah added that the Sarawak Government has also established three Community Development and Intervention Centres (CDIC) in Bau, Oya (Mukah) and Subis to serve as social support facilities and community treatment referral points.
“These centres offer consultation, counselling, family training, psychological education, as well as prevention programmes in schools and communities,” she stated.
She stressed that such integrated efforts will be further strengthened through ongoing collaboration between NCID Sarawak, NCID Bukit Aman, the Sarawak Social Development Council (MPS), and OSC MIDS members to ensure the well-being of the people and to keep the state free from the scourge of drugs.
