KUCHING: Students of SMK Tun Abang Haji Openg were yesterday told that drug abuse was not the problem of the authorities alone but also everyone’s.
“I am aware that nowadays, we like to keep our nose out of other people’s business because we feel like we have no say in telling off other people’s children. We are afraid we would be told off by the parents of the child (taking drugs) instead.
“However, this mentality has to stop. We should stand together to combat the drug problems,” State Information deputy director Ali Suhaili said when officiating a civic talk at Dewan Toh Puan Hajah Masniah at the school here.
“The role of the community is very important in nurturing the culture of ‘tegur menegur’ (literally translated as admonition),” he said.
According to Ali, the parents’ cooperation is also important in giving information to the authorities so that their children could be helped and would not be involved in drug abuse.
“It could have been depression or lack of attention. We need to know the root causes in order to cure and prevent drug abuse,” he explained.
“The students are the future generation who will lead the nation. Thus, we have to make sure that they are being raised properly,” he said.
Ali, who was representing the State Information director Abang Sardon Abang Hashim at the event, also shared a story about how drugs could also bring down an entire society or country.
He cited as an example the fall of China in the 18th century because of opium.
About 170 students attended the talk organised by the State Information Department in collaboration with National Anti-Drug Agency State (AADK) and Royal Malaysian Police (RMP).
Also present were SMK Tun Abang Haji Openg’s principal Affida Helmi, Kuching District Education officer representative Ashpalela Wasli, Kuching District Information officer Normala Juatan and Senior Assistant for Administration and Academic Nazariah Hassan.
