KUCHING: The One-Stop Committee (OSC) to address drug and substance issues (MIDS) is planning to embark on an Integrated Action Plan for A Drug-Free District to be implemented at various locations in Sarawak.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development (KWKPK) Minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said a pilot project on the initiative had been implemented in the Dalat district in Mukah Division.
“The action plan includes aggressive integrated enforcement actions to curtail supply to and demand of illicit drugs and substances in the district.
“It will also provide for a robust community-based treatment and rehabilitation efforts for individuals and families already affected by substance abuse and use disorders to curtail relapse and sustain recovery,” she told a press conference at her office at Baitulmakmur 2 in Petra Jaya, here today (Aug 24).
Fatimah said the action plan also included structured prevention programmes aimed at education institutions, workplaces and vulnerable communities.
“There will also be the usage of new integrated instruments such as Social Intervention Directories; Social Wellbeing Cards and Referral Forms to profile, track and address recovery capital needs of the communities affected by substance use, abuse and use disorders.
“On top of that, we will also mobilise and support the Community Leaders’ MIDS Bureau to sustain grassroots collaboration,” she added.
Elaborating on the monthly report of the OSC MIDS, Fatimah said out of the total arrests of 4,952 individuals for drug-related offences since January 2021, the Kuching district recorded the highest number of arrests in Sarawak with 1,300 people, followed by the Bintulu district with 430, the Miri district with 388, the Sibu district with 384 and the Samarahan district with 365.
“I call on all parties to continue working together to combat drug and substance abuse activities in Sarawak.
“Prevention is always better. My advice is for the community in Sarawak to refrain from drug and substance abuse as it is very difficult to recover from,” she advised.
