Syed Saddiq apologises for overlooking singer's sharing of his illness

 

Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman held a meeting with the family of singer Yasin Sulaiman and apologised for overlooking the latter's previous sharing of his illness and the use of medical marijuana in combating it.

Sharing photos of the meeting on his social media, Syed Saddiq (above) once again raised the issue of laws governing medical marijuana in Malaysia which he described as "outdated".

"Earlier, I had the opportunity to meet with Yasin's family. I apologise to Yasin for overlooking his post last October.

"It is a cry for help that is not only voiced by Yasin but by those who are suffering and in need of cannabis oil for medical purposes," he said on Instagram today.

The former youth and sports minister also shared a picture showing Yasin's post on Facebook on October 14, which, among others, stated that cannabis has many medical benefits, especially for people with mental health issues like him.

Yasin Sulaiman

Yasin said that for the past 20 years, he has been trying to get the right medicine for his bipolar disorder.

"I met many doctors, went to the hospital, tried spiritual practices, tried many supplements and medications with various side effects ... Now I know what the cure is for my problem, and it is very shameful if society prevents me from getting it just because of a lack of knowledge.

"Congratulations, Syed Saddiq. You have helped me a lot and many more people in need. May God bless, and you be given success," he said.

Yasin now faces two charges of growing cannabis in his house and distributing cannabis estimated to weigh 214 grammes.

On March 31, when taken to the Petaling Jaya Court Complex, he asked reporters to convey his greetings to Syed Saddiq and asked him to work for medical marijuana to be legalised in Parliament.

Banning medical cannabis is outdated

Touching on the meeting with Yasin's family, Syed Saddiq said his own mother requested him to help the singer.

He added that he had met parents who had to buy cannabidiol oil from abroad for their children, and there were even doctors who tried to get it to help their patients.

"They have the right to get the best medicine for their health. It is about life and death.

"Brother Yasin is only one, but there are many other Yasins that we do not know of who may have been punished and not received proper treatment.

"The law banning medical cannabis is outdated. The WHO (World Health Organization) itself has removed cannabis from the narcotics list," he said.

Syed Saddiq also raised the issue of the number of people who die due to cigarettes and alcohol in Malaysia every year.

"But when it comes to cannabis for medicine, it suddenly becomes a taboo and legal action is imposed. Remember, patients are not criminals," he said.

On April 6, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said clinical studies on the use of cannabis in medicine could be done.

Khairy said, so far, no full submissions for a clinical study has been received by the Health Ministry.

He said such a study or trial can be coordinated by the Institute for Clinical Research under the National Institutes of Health which is part of his ministry.

Over the last few years, there have been three separate but related issues that were considered as policy changes but not implemented as new laws.

The first was the issue of the legal status of medical marijuana.

The second was the decriminalisation of small quantities of drug possession so that addicts can be treated as patients, not criminals, as was proposed by former Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad.

The third was the removal of the mandatory death penalty as part of the sentencing of those convicted under the Dangerous Drugs Act. - Mkini