By Suhaila Shahrul Annuar
SHAH ALAM, March 27 — Department and organisation heads at the state level are encouraged to establish and mobilise the Tempat Kerja Bebas Dadah (Drug-Free Workplace Committee, or Tekad) to tackle drug abuse and related crimes within their agencies effectively.
State Deputy Secretary (Management) Datuk Mohd Yazid Sairi said employers are responsible for reminding and motivating their employees to adopt a healthy lifestyle free from the influence of prohibited substances.
“The abuse of drugs and prohibited substances can lead to the occurrence of various problems, and in certain cases, it leads to loss of life, injuries, damage to property and tarnish the image of the organisation.
“Drug abuse has also been identified as contributing to absenteeism at work, low productivity, high quit rates, and criminal involvement,” he said during the launch of the state-level Tekad Seminar at the Selangor State Development Corporation’s (PKNS) headquarters today.
He added that during the state-level National Drug Eradication Action Council (MTMD) meeting chaired by Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari on April 11, 2021, the Selangor Initiative to Control the Real Threat of Drugs (SMARD) 2021-2025 was approved.
“As part of the initiative, the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), along with the collaborative efforts of agencies under the National Drug Policy, non-governmental organisations, and community leaders, successfully implemented rehabilitation efforts in seven out of the 13 high-risk areas for drug addiction in Selangor, effectively ‘greening’ these areas.
“The greening targets for this year and next year include the districts of Damansara, Cheras, Tanjung 12, Setapak, Pandan, and Jugra.
“I hope the aspirations of Dadah Terkawal 2025 and Selangor Sejahtera Tanpa Dadah can be achieved through ongoing efforts like these,” Yazid said.
Meanwhile, AADK director-general for education and prevention Mahadzir Elias said that while the workplace can serve as a protective factor for individuals involved in drug abuse activities, it can also pose a risk of getting involved in such problems.
“Employees contribute to approximately 60 to 70 per cent of the nearly 145,000 annual cases of drug abuse.
“They are a group at risk of being drawn into drug-related issues since the workplace is recognised as a strategic environment for addressing and regulating this problem,” he said.
Earlier, approximately 150 participants attended the state-level Tekad Seminar, organised by AADK, Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) or MBI, and PKNS.
The seminar focused on providing drug prevention education in the workplace, educating both employers and employees about the hazards of drugs and furnishing them with the latest information on prohibited substances.
