Expedite plans to decriminalise minor drug offences, says NGO

KUALA LUMPUR: Plans to decriminalised minor drug offences should be expedited to avoid overcrowding in prisons, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye (pic)

The Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said while the government was already planning to do so, the process could be expedited by introducing legislation to provide minor offenders with rehabilitation involving the community instead of imprisonment.

"There are now 39 prisons nationwide with a population of 74,459. These prisons only have capacity to hold 65,000 inmates.

"Decriminalising minor drug offences will surely reduce the prison population significantly," he said on Saturday (Aug 19).

He was commenting on the recent successes of the Penang and Perak police in busting drug syndicates and seizing drugs worth millions of ringgit.

"I hope the police will continue to crack down on drug syndicates. Their actions in busting drug syndicates should be commended," he said.

While enforcement against the drug menace was needed, Lee said decriminalising minor drug offences was also key to effectively combat the drug menace.

"Minor drug offenders should be sent to rehabilitation and after the process, the government should also provide training for them and provide jobs so that they could be fully integrated into society," he added.

Lee said according to the Statistics Department, 108,2000 drug related cases were recorded and 129,606 individuals were arrested for drug related offences in 2021.