Social activist calls on S'wak govt to intensify drug awareness, education
KUCHING (May 28): Social activist Voon Shiak Ni has urged the Sarawak government to take the lead in launching a dedicated annual two month-long drug awareness and education campaign to tackle the root of the growing drug problem in the state.
She commended enforcement agencies and the Sarawak police for their firm stance and success in raid operations, citing recent large-scale raids in Miri that uncovered enough illicit substances to supply over 150,000 drug users, or nearly 5.8 per cent of Sarawak's population.
However, she said despite high profile seizures and arrests, drug abuse were still rampant, citing a 30 per cent increase in drug addiction cases reported by the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) in 2024.
'These numbers are not just statistics — they represent broken families, lost futures and growing despair. As an activist on the ground, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of drug abuse on marriages, children and the fabric of society,' she said in a statement.
Voon welcomed the recent passing of the amendments to the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 2024, saying it marked an important policy shift from punishment to rehabilitation — a timely reform recognizing addiction as a health issue deserving of support and structured treatment.
However, she emphasised policy reform must go beyond legislation.
'Our community and Sarawak must not abdicate their role. If Sarawak truly wants to break the drug cycle, we need to act decisively on the demand side of the equation, as drug dealing — as any other forms of business — thrives on a demand-driven supply chain,' she said.
She said the campaign would target school children and youths across Sarawak, and can be implemented in collaboration with schools, the AADK, local councils, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community leaders.
'Education must be continuous, not a one-off event and should focus on real-life risks, the emotional toll on families, and the tactics used by traffickers to lure the young and vulnerable,' she said.
Touching on public concerns regarding the amended law, Voon noted that while it allowed for non-custodial rehabilitation arrangements, it should not be seen as a 'free ride' for drug users.
'Compassion must be matched with responsibility. I call on the state government and stakeholders to ensure that rehabilitation is not a free pass, but a structured pathway where drug dependents contribute through community service, skill-building, and counselling.
'Only then can we repair not just individuals, but the families and communities broken by addiction,' she said.
She pointed out that drug abuse destroys families, often leading to violence, neglect, divorce, and trauma in children, and also poses a wider threat to public safety.
'Rehabilitation must help individuals heal, but it must also rebuild their sense of accountability to society and to the families they've affected,' she added.
She stressed that the amended Act also raised legitimate concerns about whether it could weaken efforts to deter initial drug use.
'Prevention is always better than a cure. I humbly urge the Sarawak government to take the lead to battle against the drugs by taking effective measures to deter and reduce the numbers of drug users to cripple the demand-driven supply chain,' she said. crime drug problems education lead Voon Shiak Ni
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