Malaysia’s ‘No 1 enemy’ is scourge of escalating drug abuse, deputy PM warns
Malaysia now has nearly 200,000 drug users – most aged 15 to 39 – with states bordering Thailand showing the highest abuse rates
Drug abuse in Malaysia has reached a critical level and now poses a serious threat to public safety, economic stability and the country’s social structure, according to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said there were 192,857 drug users and addicts in the country – out of a population of around 35 million – with 61 per cent of them aged between 15 and 39, as of 2024.
“Of this number, 96 per cent are male, driven largely by peer influence and curiosity,” Ahmad Zahid said in a statement after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Eradicating Drug Abuse on Monday, Bernama reported.
The deputy prime minister said Kelantan state recorded the highest rate of drug abuse with 1,130 users per 100,000 people, followed by Terengganu (974), Perlis (965) and Kedah (898). Three of those four states border Thailand, which decriminalised cannabis in 2022.
To address the growing problem and increasingly complex challenges, Ahmad Zahid said the committee had approved the Anti-Drug Communication Plan 2025-2027.
He said the plan’s comprehensive and targeted approach focuses on promoting behavioural change, increasing awareness and delivering accurate information through coordinated efforts across multiple agencies.
To enhance treatment and rehabilitation efforts, the National Anti-Drugs Agency’s Drug Assessment Centre (DAC) has adopted a “single point entry” approach to expedite screening and intervention for detainees without waiting for pathology results.
“As of April 5, a total of 261 detainees had undergone evaluation at the DAC in Kuala Muda, Kedah,” Ahmad Zahid said.
The deputy prime minister also highlighted new concerns involving mushroom-flavoured vape products found to contain psychoactive substances such as psilocybin and psilocin, based on findings by the National Poison Centre.
“These substances pose a serious risk to children and youth, and require immediate and more aggressive enforcement action,” he said.
The Home Ministry would utilise the country’s Crime Data Network Analysis system to better track drug- related crime patterns and help develop more focused and effective strategies, Ahmad Zahid said.
He stressed that the government remained firm in implementing national drug policy, which covers prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and enforcement.
“The fight against drugs is a shared responsibility that requires active involvement from all levels of society – including the public and civil society groups,” Ahmad Zahid said.
“To protect future generations from the threat of drugs, we will remain steadfast and uncompromising in this fight against the nation’s No 1 enemy.”
This article was first published by The Star
