By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Religious leaders yesterday lamented that among that 732 drug abusers arrested last year, 664 were Malay youths, who are considered to be an asset to the nation.

Imams in their Friday sermon appealed to parents and all other levels of community to help overcome this rather sad phenomenon, while taking vital steps to quash the social malady.

Imams explained signs of those involved in drugs include escaping from school, from work, as well as losing one's temper without a reason, running away from responsibilities until one's family disintegrates, being unusually secretive, distancing oneself from family, close friends and no longer having any interest in one's favourite activities, losing one's appetite, craving for excessive cash or taking cash from people without the owner's knowledge.

Last year, 732 drug arrests were made with 606men and 126 women being detained as a result. Out of this total, 649 were-found to be locals, 35 permanent residents and the rest foreigners. 664 were Malays youths - generally considered to be an asset to the nation.

The religious leaders added, in their effort to multiply gratitude to Allah, one should not neglect current social maladies that threaten our society and the nation like misuse of drugs fiat destroys one's life, family, threaten religious security, people and nation and ending up claiming one's very life.

To contain such ills from jeorpardising the nation requires cooperation from all parties. We should hope that every problem has a solution. Desire and willingness to solve this problem is crucial, the religious leaders observed.

Parents as the head-of a family play a big role in setting an example in religious education and good moral values as well as keeping a watchful eye on their children's activities and training them to get closer to the mosque and the example it sets.

The Imams went on to say that one must note that all issues would not end in the present world but will be questioned in the hereafter. "We should not wait until such issue becomes unstoppable. We must act quickly and consult with relevant authorities should the issue cannot be settled," the religious leaders said.

In this modern era, we should not give excuses of being ignorant of consequences of narcotic use, as it has frequently been highlighted in the media and even published in the form of a book, they said.

Narcotics are proved to cause mental illness, weaken one's mind, cause impotency, damages kidneys and liver as well as cause stroke and death. For a drug addict who has a family, it would destroy all happiness and lead to break-ups leaving innocent children to suffer.

To combat the misuse of drugs, the government spends a huge budget to tackle such problems as well as rehabilitation. As drugs inhibit the nation's progress, the religious leaders urged the public to enhance one's awareness and understanding of such issues stop it from destroying the people and nation. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin