All in a day’s work: Saifuddin Nasution (left) presenting an award to Johor AADK director Mohd Faisal Maksom at the closing ceremony of the AADK i-Deen programme. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star
KAJANG: The Home Ministry is studying whether to amend existing laws or introduce new legislation to address the growing issue of drug sales via online platforms, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Home Minister said the matter has been discussed at the Cabinet Committee on Addressing Drug Issues, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“The Cabinet committee meets three times a year, with the last one in June. There is no decision yet, as we are still discussing it.
“We still need to review legal and regulatory aspects to improve enforcement. This matter involves several agencies with different jurisdictions.
“For example, drug issues fall under the Home Ministry’s purview, but if the sales occur via online platforms, that falls under the jurisdiction of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry,” he told reporters after the closing ceremony of the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) i-Deen programme here yesterday.
Saifuddin Nasution said one of the main challenges in tackling online drug sales is the use of various platforms that are difficult to monitor, especially when transactions occur outside official channels.
He described the trend as a growing threat, warning that easy access to drug supplies and discreet transactions make enforcement efforts more complicated.
“If the transactions happen on official e-commerce platforms, they are easier to detect. But if social media platforms are used, it becomes more challenging.
“This also includes cases where delivery services like courier companies are used for small-scale drug distribution,” he added.
Separately, Saifuddin Nasution said achieving a minimum 80% successful rehabilitation rate of drug users is a reasonable target for the AADK.
He said the agency had already achieved a 79% rate last year.
“We want it to further improve so that the successful rehabilitation rate will continue to rise,” he said, adding that the government will give the necessary support to the agency to achieve its target.
Saifuddin Nasution also said amendments to the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 will enable stricter enforcement against private rehabilitation centres found committing offences.
He said the recent amendments have empowered authorities to implement certain control measures, including regulatory oversight of privately run facilities.
“If violations occur, action can be taken,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the investigation into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir after an apparent fall from her hostel last month, Saifuddin Nasution said the legal process should be respected.
He said the investigation paper had been completed and referred to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC).
He was asked to comment on the case, including whether proper standard operating procedure was followed during the probe.
Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail previously said the IP on the investigation into Zara Qairina’s death had been referred to the AGC.
