KUCHING: Substance abuse is a serious problem in many Bidayuh villages and demands a serious effort to combat this.
Records show that Bau District recorded the most number of cases.
Many villages in Bau, Lundu, Padawan and Serian are not spared from the menace of drug use and addiction.
This has gotten Bidayuh community leaders — among them, Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong, Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep and Bau District officer Anielia Sitam — all worried.
Henry, speaking to New Sarawak Tribune, said drug abuse plagued every village in the district, adding that arrests made by the police in Bau were sufficient proof that the problem had gotten from bad to worse.
He noted that even students had fallen victim to social issues, coupled with the influence from the wide usage of information technology.
Hence, he urged community leaders, village chiefs and Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) and school authorities to join forces with authorities such as the police by providing information to help combat the drug menace.
He said more attention must be paid on youths, especially students, as some as young as 12 and 13 (Form One and Two) were already involved in substance abuse.
He singled out SMK Singai as one of the schools in which its students were involved in substance abuse.
“Parents must make sure their children are not influenced into taking drugs by runners and those out to make big money peddling drugs in the villages,” he said.
He commended the formation of the One-Stop Committee (OSC), comprising various enforcement agencies, community leaders and school authorities here to combat substance abuse.
The committee, a joint effort between Bau District Office, Royal Malaysian Police, National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) and other relevant enforcement agencies, hopes to create awareness among the younger generation on the dangers of drug abuse.
Henry added that schools and parents should also play their part in disseminating the deadly effects of drug abuse to young ones.
Meanwhile, Manyin reminded Bidayuh community leaders to be aware of the dangers posed by drug abuse among their youths.
He said the Bidayuh were rather fortunate because most of their villages were connected by roads, “but the problem is that the roads also bring in many social ills such as the drug menace”.
Manyin lamented that Serian, which was declared a ‘white area’ in 1999, was now tainted with drugs.
“Drug abuse is making inroads into the Bidayuh heartland. We ought to be very watchful over our children,” he warned.
Anielia said OSC in its meeting recently adopted a resolution that the fight against substance abuse in the district should not just be left to the police alone.
She said the committee agreed that community leaders, village chiefs, schools and the local community itself would assist the police in providing information related to drug-related activities.
Anielia added that the committee and the local community would also assist the police in their operations.
