KOTA BARU: Being a state located near the border with Thailand, along with economic factors, has contributed to a significant number of locals becoming involved in drug abuse.
Machang Moral Rehabilitation Centre director Mohd Nasir Yusof said that, in addition to these factors, family backgrounds also play a role in the high number of cases.
"Based on my observations and the cases of inmates sent to the Machang Moral Rehabilitation Centre, many Kelantanese, especially young people, become involved in drug abuse due to several reasons.
"The first reason is that Kelantan's proximity to the border makes it easier for drugs to enter the state. Secondly, economic factors play a role, and finally, family background also contributes," he said, without elaborating further.
Nasir said that 98 per cent of the 2,908 inmates at the centre were involved in drug-related offenses. The remaining inmates were involved in other offenses such as crimes and immigration violations.
"A majority of them are from Kelantan, particularly from the districts of Pasir Mas and Machang," he added.
Nasir was commenting on yesterday's report that Machang is among the districts with high drug abuse cases.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had mentioned that data on drug abuse nationwide has revealed a troubling pattern in districts in the north and east coast.
He said data gathered by four agencies showed that the Pendang district in Kedah had the highest number of drug abuse cases, with 1,333 people per 100,000 residents.
He added that this data was the result of mapping efforts by the police, the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), the Health Ministry, and private narcotic rehabilitation centres.
Saifuddin said that after Pendang, several districts in Kelantan and Terengganu - namely Machang, Marang, Dungun, Kemaman, and Besut - also exceeded the national average.
Meanwhile, Machang Member of Parliament Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said he welcomed the information shared by Datuk Seri Saifuddin yesterday regarding the latest data on drug addiction.
In his Facebook post today, Wan Fayhsal said that he had already held a meeting with officers from the National Anti-Drug Agency's Machang branch last May to discuss the issue.
"I received a briefing from the agency regarding the drug problem in Machang, and I have raised these concerns in the Dewan Rakyat, which were addressed by the Home Ministry. It turns out that the lack of support and funding from the ministry has also affected the agency's ability and effectiveness in combating the drug menace in Machang," he added.
He said that as a former Machang Member of Parliament, Saifuddin should be more proactive on this issue.
"He should cooperate with us - members of Parliament and assemblymen in the Machang district - to launch an integrated war against drugs. I also urge the Home Ministry, especially the former Machang MP, Saifuddin, to involve me and the assemblymen within the Machang Parliament in the fight against this menace," he added.