SHAH ALAM: The Health Ministry has given the assurance to better equip hospitals to detect users of ecstasy pills and Syabu to prevent overcrowding in police lock-ups, Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Noh Omar said Sunday.He said the Health Ministry gave the assurance following a meeting of its Committee on Treatment and Rehabilitation with his Ministry early this month.
He said with more equipment, results of urine tests conducted on suspects would be obtained faster, adding this would facilitate prosecution by the police and, indirectly, reduce overcrowding in police lock-ups.
"As it is now, we don't have enough equipment because not all hospitals have it (the equipment). That's why, sometimes, the police have to release the suspects after 14 days because of delay in getting the results (of the urine tests) from the hospitals.
"This is the problem we face because, when the suspects are freed, it is difficult to trace them again," he told reporters after flagging-off a convoy of motorcyclists participating in the "Kembara Enam Jahanam Lembah Klang" anti-drug campaign, here.
The convoy, the first to be organised by Universiti Technologi Mara (UiTM), drew the participation of 200 students from the university who will distribute anti-drug pamphlets along their route.
Noh said for traditional drug addicts like those using morphine and cannabis, it would be faster to get the results of their urine tests because most hospitals had the equipment.
"Each type of drug has its own set of detection equipment. The equipment for detection of ecstasy pills is only available in the main hospitals," he added.
On the number of equipment, its cost and when it would be supplied, Noh said the matter would be announced by the Health Ministry.- Bernama
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Seven die as car rams into police roadblock
PENANG: A speeding car rammed into a police roadblock for motorcycles here early Sunday, killing three persons in the vehicle, three policemen and a motorcyclist.
The accident happened at 2.02am at a section of the Jelutong Expressway when the Proton Wira car, travelling from Georgetown towards the Penang Bridge, went out of control on the rain-soaked road, hit the roadblock on the motorcycle lane near the Jalan Tengku Kudin overhead pedestrian bridge and overturned.
State Chief Police Officer, Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee, said the three persons in the car who died were the driver, Rokaib Mohd Amin, 20, of Gambang, Pahang; Mohd Azrul Nayan, 21, of Pekan, Pahang, and his girlfriend Azura Romli, 20, of Pendang, Kedah.
The three policemen killed were Lance Corporal Ridzuan Jaafar, 41, of Alor Star, Kedah, and volunteer reserves Constable Shamsuri Mohamed, 30, of Mergong, Kedah, and Constable Lok Wan Loo, 35, of Paya Terubong, Penang.
The motorcyclist who died was Mohamad Izwan Badri, 19, of Bota, Perak, who had been stopped for a check at the roadblock manned by seven policemen since 11.30pm under an operation to detect stolen motorcycles.
Wan said one passenger in the car, Mohd Taufik Abdul Hamid, 20, of Pekan, Pahang, sustained only slight injuries and managed to crawl out of the overturned vehicle.
Mohd Taufik, who had been sent to the Penang Hospital, was seated in the front passenger seat, he added.
Wan said Rokaib and his friends, all employees at Penang Shipbuilding & Construction, were believed to have been on their way to have a bite when the accident happened.
Rokaib, Azura, Mohamad Izwan and Constable Shamsuri were killed on the spot while Lance Corporal Ridzuan, Constable Lok and Mohd Azrul died in hospital.
He said policemen Ridzuan and Shamsuri would be buried in the respective villages Sunday.
Ridzuan, who was with the Jelutong police station since 1997, leaves a wife and three children aged between 8 and 13 years.
Shamsuri, a widower, was a medical assistant at the Penang Hospital and had served as a police volunteer reserve for about a year.
Lok, a technician at a paint factory, had joined the police volunteer reserve unit a year ago. He leaves a wife and two children, aged five and 3-1/2.
Wan said five police teams comprising seven personnel each had set up routine roadblocks along Jalan Tanjong Tokong, the Jelutong Expressway, the junction of Jalan Bagan Jermal and Jalan Kelawei, Lebuh Light and the junction of Jalan Greenhall and Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah to check for stolen motorcycles.
"These were ordinary roadblocks under the Ops Cegah Jenayah Curi Motorsikal (operation against theft of motorcycles) and did not hamper flow of traffic along the roads," he said.
Wan expressed sadness over the incident and described it as the worst accident in Penang so far this year.
He extended his condolences to the families of the dead, and advised road users to be extra careful when riding or driving on wet roads.- Bernama
