Nabbed getting high on roof-top
Published on: Thursday, June 23, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Five teenagers who had used a building rooftop as their hideout to sniff glue were rounded up after photos of them in the act were shared on social media.District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner M Chandra said police, together with City Hall, acted on complaints made by the public and tracked down the teenagers, comprising two girls and three boys aged between nine and 17."They admitted to sniffing glue and had climbed to the roof of the building at Kampung Air here two days ago," he said, adding that urine tests on them however returned negative for drugs.
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"Two of the boys will be held further for verification on their documents while the others will be referred to the Welfare Department (for behavioral) rehabilitation," said Chandra.Their parents were also notified.In addition, a shop that sold glue to the teenagers have also been identified and action will be taken against the owner. Police said regular patrols will be made in the area and accessibility to the roof will be strictly controlled with cooperation from building owners.
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The photographs of the teenagers standing precariously on the roof of the building in Kampung Air were shared on Facebook and WhatsApp. Chandra assured that daily operation with City Hall will be conducted in the area and accessibility to the roof of buildings will be restricted. He said there was no criminal activity detected as glue sniffing is still not classified as an offence.
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Some netizens expressed concern about their safety.The photos showed at least nine of them, including girls, and two much younger boys on the zinc roof of the four-storey building with some holding what looked like plastic bags."Nanti adalah yg nyanyi lagu 'I believe I can fly' trus landing pigi bawah ('I believe I can fly' and fall on the ground)," commented a concerned Facebook user."Scary, ada budak lagi bah, bikin worry (Scary, there's even a small boy, worrisome)," she added.Another user claimed it was not the first time as he had seen a group of youngsters on the roof before."Dr dulu lagi…tula bikin takut (It's happened before…it's scary)," he commented.Meanwhile, building owners were urged to make sure doors and entrances to the rooftop are always locked to prevent untoward incidents.State Community Development and Consumers' Affair Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad said it is imperative to double check the doors and any entrances to the rooftops to ensure youths, especially, do not loiter and do social ill activities."What I fear is that youths who are sniffing glue would feel high and they could hurt themselves and even jeopardise their own lives if they walk on the edge of the roof and fell.Jainab who is also Karambunai assemblywoman said this to reporters after officiating a ceremony of presenting Ramadan charity contribution to 200 recipients in Karambunai area held at City Mosque in Likas, Wednesday.Kumpulan BTC Berhad sponsored the Ramadan contributions in the form of basic food and cash to the recipients who are underprivileged people such as single mothers, senior citizens, special people and hardcore poor and poor people.Also present were Kumpulan BTC Berhad Chairman Datuk Abdul Jamal Tun Sakaran, its Managing Director Datuk Abdul Kadir M.E Sikkandar, its Executive Director Datin Sithi Kathija Begam binti Jailani and its executive directors.On the glue sniffing, Jainab who is also Malaysia Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam) Sabah Chairman, said such offence has yet to be regulated under existing law.She said it is important that those youngsters are counselled and sent to the Cure and Care unit to be helped addressing the problem that could lead them taking drugs.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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