Malaysian MP calls for end to incarceration of drug users

Malaysian MP Ramkarpal Singh has called on the government to review certain sections of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 to allow for a more medically-oriented approach. Citing data from last year, Ramkarpal said that almost’a third of the country's total prison population is behind bars for drug-related offences.

«In September last year, the number of inmates in all the country's prisons stood at 75,379, exceeding the maximum capacity of 69,816,» he said in a statement. «In total, 23,523 of these prisoners are serving sentences for drug use and addiction under sections 12(2), 15(1)(a) and 39C of the Act.»

It would therefore be wise, in his view, for the government to review the law. Mr. Ramkarpal, former Deputy Minister of Law and Institutional Reform, said that the Ministry of Home Affairs should conduct a study on the effectiveness of punitive methods in treating drug-related problems.

He also praised the ministry of health's commitment to helping people fighting drug use and addiction by adopting a health approach. Mr. Ramkarpal said that the efforts of NGOs such as Persatuan Pengasih to treat drug users and addicts should be welcomed and encouraged.

«Incarcerating drug users and addicts will not overcome or reduce the problem of drug use and addiction,» he said.

«It's high time the government adopted policies with the long-term aim of rehabilitating these offenders who can contribute to the country's development, and reducing the number of prisoners within the maximum capacity of the country's prisons.»