Kota Kinabalu: Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad revealed that there were about 35 high-risk areas (black spots) in the State that have been identified by the authorities."I am made to understand that in the State there are currently 35 black spot areas that have been identified by the police in and around Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Kunak, Tawau, Lahad Datu, Semporna and Papar.
"These areas are not only drug distribution and addiction centres but also feared to be a source of other social ills such as free mixing of the sexes, fights, family breakups, divorce and others.
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She said this to reporters after the State-level Anti-Drugs Action Committee meeting at Ming Garden Hotel, here, Thursday.
"I am confident that through this Anti-Drugs Action Committee, a continuous integrated approach by all parties can be increased to confront this issue and the security problems related to it particularly drug addiction and distribution.
"The government is serious in tackling drugs which is the number one enemy of the country where we have agreed that there are two things that are important that is if drugs are the number one enemy of the country we have to act like it is so.
"It is a war and we must treat it seriously. At the same time, it involves a lucrative business where it is attractive to those involved. We are dealing with a big syndicate involving billions of ringgit. So there must be awareness on the part of the community as well on this."
Jainab said the sad part is that those that end up getting caught are the small fish who are Malaysians who end up in prison and even hanged but the big fish get off scot free and "sometimes we don't even know who they are as it is very difficult to detect them."
"With all sorts of crimes happening such as house break-ins, violent robberies and other social problems, the government is wasting millions to cure the problem.
"So our approach is prevention is better than cure and to make the local community aware that they have to be aware of their own household and children.
"The community including the village security and development committee, Rela and neighbourhood watch have to work together with government agencies to assist to combat this problem because more often than not they are the ones who are aware of what is happening on the ground."
She added break-ins in broad daylight are becoming so common now so the community have to be alert.
"Sometimes the ones that break in are addicts because they are brave and desperate for cash and there must be a syndicate that asks them to do that. So as a result our community ends up living in fear. So we all have a role to play and must be proactive and must not be defensive anymore. It is a war and we must fight it and be on the attack.
We have to make people aware that drugs are killing us and destroying our households."
She said for example a glue sniffer's addict brain will be damaged after six months of engaging in the habit.
"They become cuckoo (insane) so while the government spends so much money on training and skills it will be for naught. What is going to happen to these young people?
So this is where Pemadam comes in but even with medical treatment their brains are already damaged. So we want to prevent this from happening to our children and grandchildren.
"So this is why the awareness programme is important to make everyone aware.
Malaysians are the ones who mostly end up being caught and they are being used by non-Malaysians.
"For me, this is a form of colonisation by outsiders. Are we going to allow such a sophisticated colonialisation through drugs. So we must fight this war because outsiders are colonising us through drugs. We pay the price but outsiders are the ones that profit.
"As such, all parties must be alert and collaborate to play their part to combat this menace," she said.
