Ketum to be listed under DDA

ARAU: The Home Ministry will take over in re-tabling the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (Amendment) 2014 Bill in Parliament.

The Bill aims to provide a new definition for ketum leaf and list it as a dangerous drug.

It was first tabled by the Health Ministry on April 1.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahya said the takeover had been discussed by all stakeholders.

“The Health Ministry received much opposition from various quarters, including the Opposition, when tabling the Bill. So, we withdrew it,” he said after closing the Young Doctors Club Summer Camp at Universiti Teknoloji Mara Perlis here yesterday.

Dr Hilmi said a review of the Bill took quite a long time because of legal implications involving many parties.

The review covers other leaves that can potentially give users effects similar to taking ketum leaf.

Dr Hilmi said the Global School Based Student Health Survey 2012 involving 25,500 students found that 71% of students smoked before they were 14.

“These are some of the problems faced by school children. We hope the young doctors programme will help reduce this ‘disease’,” he said. — Bernama