Kuala lumpur: The government is evaluating the necessity of amending current laws or introducing new legislation to tackle the growing concern of drug sales conducted online, stated Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. The issue was brought up during the Cabinet Committee Meeting on Combating Drug Abuse, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in June.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saifuddin Nasution explained that the discussion highlighted the urgent need to address the online drug trade, emphasizing the potential for amending existing laws or creating new ones to specifically target small-scale drug sales or transactions occurring on online marketing platforms. He made these remarks at a press conference following the conclusion of the i-DEEN Programme by the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK).
Saifuddin Nasution noted that the rise of the online drug trade poses a serious threat, as drug supplies are easily accessible and transactions are conducted discreetly. He elaborated that tackling this issue requires careful consideration due to the involvement of multiple regulatory agencies. While the Home Ministry oversees drugs, sales via online platforms fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living.
He further explained that monitoring online sales platforms is comparatively easier, but sales conducted through social media, especially when combined with delivery via courier services, present significant detection challenges.
On a separate matter, Saifuddin Nasution emphasized the need for AADK officers managing clients and working in rehabilitation centers to be equipped with new knowledge and skills. This is necessary to keep pace with the evolving nature of drug abuse in the country, which has shifted from conventional drugs to synthetic drugs over the past four decades.
He pointed out that synthetic drugs are now more prevalent among those undergoing treatment, necessitating changes in management approaches. Officers need to possess a level of knowledge that matches the growing complexity of drug types, particularly synthetic drugs, which can induce hallucinations in users.
The minister also highlighted the diverse challenges faced by rehabilitation center officers, who deal with clients exhibiting varying addictions in terms of symptoms, severity, causes, and backgrounds. This requires tailored treatment and rehabilitation strategies to effectively address the complexity of each case.