Latest news with #AhmadZahidHamid
New Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Drug abuse at alarming levels, poses threat to nation
PUTRAJAYA: 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, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamid. Citing the latest data, he said there are 192,857 drug users and addicts in the country, 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," he said in a statement after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Eradicating Drug Abuse today. Ahmad Zahid said Kelantan recorded the highest rate of drug abuse with 1,130 users per 100,000 population, followed by Terengganu (974), Perlis (965), and Kedah (898). To address the growing problem and increasingly complex challenges, he said the committee today approved the Anti-Drug Communication Plan 2025–2027, which adopts a comprehensive and targeted approach. He said the plan focuses on promoting behavioural change, increasing awareness, and delivering accurate information through coordinated efforts across multiple agencies — towards a national anti-drug movement. To enhance treatment and rehabilitation efforts, the Drug Assessment Centre (DAC) under the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) 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," he said. He 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. Ahmad Zahid also announced that the Home Ministry will utilise the Crime Data Network Analysis system to better track drug-related crime patterns and help develop more focused and effective strategies. He said that the government remains firm in implementing the 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.
The Sun
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Drug abuse at alarming levels, poses threat to nation
PUTRAJAYA: 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, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamid Citing the latest data, he said there are 192,857 drug users and addicts in the country, 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,' he said in a statement after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Eradicating Drug Abuse today. Ahmad Zahid said Kelantan recorded the highest rate of drug abuse with 1,130 users per 100,000 population, followed by Terengganu (974), Perlis (965), and Kedah (898). To address the growing problem and increasingly complex challenges, he said the committee today approved the Anti-Drug Communication Plan 2025–2027, which adopts a comprehensive and targeted approach. He said the plan focuses on promoting behavioural change, increasing awareness, and delivering accurate information through coordinated efforts across multiple agencies — towards a national anti-drug movement. To enhance treatment and rehabilitation efforts, the Drug Assessment Centre (DAC) under the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) 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,' he said. He 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. Ahmad Zahid also announced that the Home Ministry will utilise the Crime Data Network Analysis system to better track drug-related crime patterns and help develop more focused and effective strategies. He stressed that the government remains firm in implementing the 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. 'To protect future generations from the threat of drugs, we will remain steadfast and uncompromising in this fight against the nation's number one enemy,' he added.
Free Malaysia Today
19-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Drug abuse at critical level, says Zahid
Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamid highlighted new concerns over mushroom-flavoured vape products found to contain psychoactive substances such as psilocybin and psilocin. (Bernama pic) PUTRAJAYA : 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, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamid said today. Citing the latest data, he said there were 192,857 drug users and addicts in the country, 61% of whom were aged between 15 and 39 as of 2024. 'Of this number, 96% are male, driven largely by peer influence and curiosity,' he said in a statement after chairing a Cabinet committee meeting on eradicating drug abuse. Zahid said Kelantan recorded the highest rate of drug abuse with 1,130 users per 100,000 population, followed by Terengganu (974), Perlis (965) and Kedah (898). To address the problem and the increasingly complex challenges, he said, the committee today approved the Anti-Drug Communication Plan 2025–2027, which adopts a comprehensive and targeted approach. He said the plan focuses on promoting behavioural change, increasing awareness, and delivering accurate information through coordinated efforts across multiple agencies, towards a national anti-drug movement. To enhance treatment and rehabilitation efforts, the Drug Assessment Centre (DAC) under the National Anti-Drugs Agency 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,' he said. He also highlighted new concerns over 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. Zahid also announced that the home ministry would utilise the crime data network analysis system to better track drug-related crime patterns and help develop more focussed and effective strategies. He said the government remains firm about implementing the 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. 'To protect future generations from the threat of drugs, we will remain steadfast and uncompromising in this fight against the nation's number one enemy,' he said.
The Star
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Ahmad Zahid: Malaysia should leverage Asean chairmanship to expand halal market
BUTTERWORTH: Malaysia should seize the opportunity of its Asean Chairmanship in 2025 to expand the market for halal products and penetrate the Asean market, which comprises a population of 600 million, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamid. He said that although halal products from Indonesia and Thailand are marketed in Malaysia, local halal products have yet to penetrate the Asean market due to insufficient marketing efforts. "Since 600 million is a realistically large market for Malaysian halal products, the efforts by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) are geared towards expanding the market among Asean countries," he said. He was speaking to reporters after launching the Penang Halal Industry Development Council here on Monday (May 19), which was also attended by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) Chairman Datuk Seri Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Malaysian Halal Industry Development Council chairman, proposed the establishment of an Asean Halal Council and the organisation of an Asean Halal Forum this September. He said the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) will also feature halal products and invite Asean industry players for 'business matching' with potential importers. In addition, he said Malaysia is also collaborating to expand the production of halal gelatine-which currently has only one producer in the country-for both Asean and international markets, as existing gelatine products lack the proper standards required for other halal products. "This includes sectors such as medicine, cosmetics, and others, because we tend to focus only on the food and beverage (F&B) service sector, when in fact, other sectors hold vast market potential and should be further developed," he said. Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid noted that Malaysia possesses a comprehensive halal ecosystem, including halal certification recognised by 92 foreign halal certification bodies from 48 countries. At the same time, he congratulated Penang for becoming the first state in Malaysia to establish a Halal Industry Development Council. Malaysia continues to lead the global halal industry, recording exports valued at RM61.79bil in 2024, a 15% increase from 2023, and maintaining the number one position in the Global Islamic Economy Index for ten consecutive years. – Bernama
