Melaka: The position of Malays in the country is not threatened by the existence of other races, but by poverty and social problems such as drug addiction, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. The Home Minister emphasized that the real threat to the Malays is when they continue to be plagued by poverty and serious drug addiction.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saifuddin Nasution stated, "I want to state that Malays and Muslims are not under threat because of other races in this country. Malays are not under threat because there are Chinese in this country. Malays are not under threat because there are Indians in this country."

Speaking during his winding-up speech at the PKR National Congress 2026 at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh, Saifuddin Nasution highlighted that the threat lies in poverty and drug-related problems. He cited data from the Ministry of Health and the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), revealing that, on average, about 560 out of every 100,000 people are involved in drug addiction.

However, he noted a concerning trend in several Malay-majority states, which recorded rates exceeding 1,000 per 100,000 people. "When I cite figures from Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu, in these states more than 1,000 per 100,000 people (are involved in drug addiction)," he explained.

Saifuddin Nasution pointed out that Malay youths, particularly those aged between 15 and 39, were most involved in drug abuse, especially among individuals with an education level of up to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). He stressed that the lack of focus on developing these states has led to limited job opportunities, further exacerbating the issue.

"If you ask me how Malays are threatened, Malays becoming involved in drugs is a threat to the Malay community," he concluded.