KUCHING: The National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) Sarawak has called for closer collaboration with media practitioners in the state to strengthen public awareness and education on the dangers of drug abuse.
Its director, Abdul Hamediee Ibrahim, said the media’s role was vital in helping the agency reach a wider audience, especially in promoting prevention messages rather than focusing solely on enforcement and arrests.
“Media coverage often highlights operations and arrests, but we hope the media can also help us share stories about prevention and rehabilitation, especially the success stories of former addicts who have rebuilt their lives,” he said during the AADK-Media Synergy Programme held at Star on Stage, Jalan Borneo, here on Friday.
Abdul Hamediee said AADK’s three core functions – prevention education, treatment and rehabilitation, and enforcement – form the backbone of the agency’s mission to tackle drug abuse nationwide.
He noted that preventive education remained a key focus, particularly in addressing the rising issue of drug-laced vaping, which he described as a growing threat among youths.
“We need to educate our children and communities because vaping has become a lifestyle. The worrying part is when drugs are mixed into vape liquids,” he added.
He also urged the media to highlight the achievements of former addicts who have successfully reintegrated into society, some even reaching academic success at the PhD level or venturing into entrepreneurship.
Many, he said, have benefited from state initiatives such as the Low Income Family Empowerment (LIFE) programme under the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development led by Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
At present, Sarawak has only one rehabilitation centre located in Puncak Borneo.
However, Abdul Hamediee said AADK plans to establish two additional centres – one in the central zone and another in the northern region – to meet growing demand.
He also revealed that the government has approved the National Anti-Drug Communication Plan 2026-2030.
Under this plan, AADK Sarawak will collaborate with media professionals to design communication strategies tailored to the state’s multilingual and multicultural landscape.
“Through this plan, we hope to work closely with the media in capacity-building efforts, developing anti-drug campaigns, and even producing podcasts to reach younger audiences,” he said.
Looking ahead, he announced AADK’s intention to organise a ‘Jelajah Aspirasi’ statewide tour in 2026.
The tour, he said, will cover all regions from Limbang to Kuching with the media expected to play a key role in promoting and covering the initiative.
Abdul Hamediee concluded by expressing his hope that the partnership between AADK and the media would continue to grow, adding that two-way communication was essential in effectively delivering anti-drug messages to the community.
