Sayang 1Malaysia squad confident Govt won't budge on ganja ban

The 'Sayang 1Malaysia Squad', a volunteer body under the National Anti-Drug Agency (NADA) believes the government will not easily give in to pressure from various parties who want the banning policy on ganja in the country to be refined.

Sayang 1Malaysia Squad Johor deputy chairman, Muhammad Azali Kalki Abdullah said any party which urged the government to do so was in fact 'influenced by the culture of Western society.'

"This issue should not be raised when the country still considers ganja a dangerous drug.

"Our youths are easily influenced, and this is worrying to all parties.

"After all, in many drug rehabilitation cases, (it was found) the drug addicts usually started off with ganja, when they get hooked, they turn to other, more dangerous drugs," he said when contacted by Bernama Wednesday.

Muhammad Azali, who is also Johor Bahru Drug Rehabilitation Committee chairman, was asked to comment on the proposal by a member of the Youth Parliament of Malaysia, who last week called on the government to refine the banning policy against ganja, as he said the drug did not cause aggressive behaviour or losing one's rationality, as was the case of those who consumed alcohol excessively.

READ: Police against proposal to legalise ganja

Muhammad Azali said the public should be aware that a relaxation of the policy would bring up other problems, including increasing number of petty crimes and social problems.

It would also create an opportunity for certain parties to start selling ganja at good profits, and this in turn, would lead to the opening of cannabis plantations in the country, he said.

"Ultimately, it will become difficult to control, and therefore, we are definitely not yet willing to accept (a proposal) in that direction," he explained.

Meanwhile, Kempas assemblyman Datuk Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid said those who came up with the proposal only wanted to gain 'popularity' among the people, without knowing the real misery faced by drug addicts and their family members.