Saifuddin warns drug addiction is the real threat to Malays, not other races

 

THE position of Malays in the country is not under threat because of the presence of other ethnic groups, but is instead more severely threatened by poverty and social problems such as drug addiction, said PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is currently performing the duties of the party’s deputy president.

Saifuddin, who is also Home Affairs Minister, said the real threat to the majority community was their continued struggle with poverty and serious drug addiction.

“I want to say that Malays and Muslims are not under threat because of the presence of other ethnic groups in this country. Malays are not under threat because there are Chinese in this country. Malays are not under threat because there are Indians in this country,” he continued.

According to him, the Malays are under threat if Malays remain poor. The Malays are under threat if Malays are the group most involved in drug-related problems.

Citing data from the Ministry Of Health and the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), Saifuddin pointed out that an average of about 560 out of every 100,000 Malaysians were involved in drug addiction.

However, he highlighted a worrying trend in several Malay-majority states, where the figures exceeded 1,000 per 100,000 residents.

Saifussin claimed Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu recorded more than 1,000 out of every 100,000 residents being involved in drug addiction.

The biggest threat facing Malays is that Malay youths are becoming involved in drugs. Whether by coincidence or otherwise, the states with the highest figures happen to be those with large Malay populations.

He said the 15-to-39 age group recorded the highest involvement in the unhealthy activity, particularly among those whose highest level of education was SPM.

“When we fail to focus on developing the states, all you do is raise DAP, DAP, DAP, but you fail to take care of the states, employment opportunities are not created and young people become involved in drugs,” he said.—  Focus Malaysia