Dialogue held for Sarawak-Sabah border community

MIRI: The Ministry of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development together with the Social Development Council held a dialogue for the Sarawak-Sabah border community in Sindumin, Sabah yesterday.

The community dialogue sought to address issues such as drug use and trafficking, particularly along the Sarawak-Sabah border at Merapok in Lawas and Sindumin in Sipitang.

Assistant Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus said studies by the council have found an increasing number of drug addiction and trafficking cases.

“Symptoms of abuse and distribution of these drugs and substances need to be stopped from now in order not to become the cancer that can destroy our society,” she said when officiating at the event yesterday.

“Let us together nip this issue in the bud and, in partnership with partners from Sabah, drug and substance abuse activities in Sarawak.”

She added the number of cases is increasingly worrying.

The dialogue also discussed enforcement, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation programmes for the benefit of the two border districts.

“I believe the programme has opened the minds and created a collaborative network for working on drug and substance abuse issues for the well-being of communities in Lawas and Sipitang,” said Rosey.

She added from the dialogue an integrated intervention plan involving all parties will be developed to battle drugs.