Police shoot down Risda’s idea to grow ketum trees

Perlis deputy police chief says ketum tree leaves have been listed under the Poisons Act due to prohibited substances they contain.

PADANG BESAR: The commercialisation of ketum trees is against Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952 which has listed its leaves as having prohibited properties, said Perlis deputy police chief ACP Noor Mushar Muhammad.

He said police did not agree with the proposal by several parties to grow ketum trees on a commercial scale.

He said this was what happened in the Golden Triangle (on the Myanmar border), where according to him it was initially transformed into an opium plantation for medicinal purposes, but it did not turn out to be what had been planned.

Furthermore, Noor Mushar said as the commercialisation would involve large quantities, it was feared that there would be negative implications, be it in the short or long term.

He was speaking to reporters after officiating the 46th anniversary of the Police Cadet Corps for the state level.

He was asked to comment on, among others, the request for approval from Risda Chairman Zahidi Zainul Abidin to grow ketum trees on a commercial scale to help increase the income of farmers.

Perlis Menteri Besar Azlan Man echoed Zahidi Zainul’s views saying he was of the opinion that ketum trees can be grown commercially if scientifically proven to have medicinal properties.

He said there was high demand for the leaves abroad (for pharmaceutical use).

Meanwhile, the Kedah state government also disagreed with the proposal to export ketum abroad.

Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said this was because there has yet to be any research done to prove its benefits to the public.

“Its usage as medicine or supplement has also never been studied and verified,” he said a statement, here, today.