KUCHING: Drug abuse has contributed to a rise in domestic violence and divorce cases here.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Sri Fatimah Abdullah said this when commenting on the recent death of a 28-day-old baby girl at a clinic in Kota Samaharan.
The baby had died because of a head injury due to a blunt force.
Interviewed after launching the Tupong Women Welfare Association at the Kampung Kolong 2 community hall at Jalan Sungai Tengah yesterday, Fatimah said she had been told that the alleged abuser was under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident.
Fatimah added that drug abuse was a serious issue which could only be tackled by the concerted efforts of everyone in the society including the government, police, the Drugs Prevention Association of Malaysia (Pemadam) and the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK).
“Drug addicts must be given attention because some of them want to stop but do not know how or where to go for rehabilitation.
“Therefore, I urge drug addicts to voluntarily go to the Cure and Care Rehabilitation Centre at Jalan Penrissen to seek help,” said Fatimah.
She said parents and responsible members of the society should also take the initiative to bring their children or those under the influence of drugs for rehabilitation.
Aside from ongoing awareness programmes on the dangers of drug abuse, she added that drug pushers must also be severely punished to prevent more people from taking drugs.
