By Yasmin Ramlan
SHAH ALAM, Feb 17 – Selangor has one of the lowest rates of drug users when measured by the number of drug addicts per 100,000 people, said Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
He argued that a statement ranking Selangor as the state with the highest population of drug users in the country is unfair, as it included people from other states in Malaysia.
"From the overall figures I have seen, the number is significant, and it is not surprising considering that Selangor has a large population. Today, Selangor has 7.2 million residents, compared to 4.8 million in 2008.
"However, the figure should be measured by the number of drug addicts per 100,000 people.
"If we look at the data, Selangor is among the states with the lowest number of drug addicts, with only 340 per 100,000 people, compared to other states that have recorded more than 1,130, including Terengganu, which has 974 per 100,000 population.
[caption id="attachment_302336" align="alignright" width="442"]
Gombak MP Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari during the Royal Decree debate session, at the Dewan Rakyat, Kuala Lumpur, on February 20, 2023. YUISR YUS/SUARA KEADILAN[/caption]
"This is not an issue of which state the drug addicts come from… in fact, many of them originate from other states," he said during his debate in the Dewan Rakyat today as Gombak MP.
According to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution, Kelantan has the highest rate of drug abuse based on the ratio of every 100,000 residents, followed by Terengganu, Perlis, and Kedah.
Amirudin emphasised that addressing the issue requires focusing on providing high-level skills and support to the youth, ensuring they have the opportunities to build successful careers.
He highlighted that if this approach is successful, it could help prevent young people from falling into drug addiction.
The Menteri Besar questioned the government's initiative to develop a skilled workforce, emphasising that this will determine how effectively the country can advance its human resources, noting that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is leading a committee to monitor the growth of skilled labour in the country.
He also pointed out the current challenge of producing a highly skilled workforce to fill available job positions and meet the nation’s goal of becoming a high-income country in the future.
"We aimed to produce over 9,000 high-skilled workers by 2024. Therefore, my question to the government is, what steps will be taken to ensure that the country can attract and create opportunities for highly skilled workers?” Amirudin said.
He cited an example of Selangor’s initiative, in which the state has partnered with several organizations, including Siemens, Festo, Apple, and Dassault Systemes, to enhance workforce skills.
Over the past six to seven months, more than 2,000 workers have undergone reskilling and upskilling training. As a result, many have seen their incomes rise by 50 per cent to 60 per cent.
The training costs and efforts to upgrade skills are covered by the companies involved.
Amirudin also expressed concerns about the significant impact of Trump’s tariff policy on several countries, including Mexico and Canada.
He noted that Malaysia has been mentioned in relation to this policy, with suggestions that Chinese companies may relocate their operations to Malaysia.
To this, Amirudin asked for an approach taken by the Investment, Trade, and Industry Ministry and the Federal government to effectively address the issue.
While Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s centrist approach, especially within Asean, is focused on the government’s strategy, questions remain about its sustainability, especially as some Asean countries strengthen ties with other nations.
“(Malaysia) As Asean chairman, I hope this proposal and the issue at hand will be discussed further. By doing so, we can help mitigate the impact of geopolitical tensions and the challenges we are currently facing,” he said.
Meanwhile, Amirudin called for action to address the frequent congestion on Jalan Gombak Lama, especially during festive seasons like Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha.
He hopes that the Public Works Department willfind a solution to this issue, adding that the Selangor state government is willing to cooperate in resolving the problem, especially with the overflow at the Karak Highway.
