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Tel: 088-422298 Fax: 088-428539 PPH 8/1212012 (031085) Vol.68 Kora Kinabalu,

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PETALING JAYA: Two bovsfrom Sabah aged B and gare presently recoveringfrom their shameful tag asMalaysia's youngest ad-dicts. This was disclosed byHome Minister Datuk SeriDr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi(pic) in conjunction rviththe national-level Anti-Dadah Day recently.

"Drug abuse remains a major problem withsome of the latest addicts being as young as seven,hooked on drugs since last year. This is certainlyworrying," Zahid said.

National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) Director-Gen-eral Datuk Suhaimi Abdullah said the boys becamehooked on glue sniffing after they were encouragedto experiment with solvents by their peers.

Suhaimi said'the duo, from Papar and Keningau,induiged in drugs for few months before their parentsfound out and voluntarily handed them to the AADKcure-and care centre in zor3 and last year, respectively.

They are now back in school after three months ofcounseiling, but the boys are still monitored by the

Dep[ says it needs towork closely with rest

fbungestaddic$Fids aged 8 and g years

cure and care rehabilitation centre. t"This is worrying, Here, we are trying to overcome

teenage involvement but now we have such youngkids," said Suhaimi.

"Many people hold the perception that glue sniff-ing is not dangerous compared to other drugs.

"Parents also think they can just stop il withoutseeking help from rhe right platform.

"They are wrong. In fact, glue sniffing is more dan-gerous than heroin and ganja. Glue sniffing cuts offoxygen to your brain. It canjust blow up your brainand kill ev,5ry"s.i'ngtetralnteIl," hesaid, adding it wasevrn moie dangerous io a young child's biain..' Education Director-General-Datuk Seri Dr Khair"{Mohamad Yusof said that 1,416 out of 48,ooo students .tested positive for drugs during random checks lasr.year.

M e anwhile, Pemad a ffif trfi?itaysi a.eQndg =P-te-_veetfonAssociation) President Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum

said the authorities are losing the battle against theillicit substance abuse, especially among schoolchild-ren.

"We have failed. Former Prime Minister Datuk SeriAbdullah Ahmad Badawi said several years back that

Chris Maskilonetiole FisheKorA KTNABALU: rhe State What role Fishgries Dept?

Fisheries Department hasbeen and wlli continue ro uo-hold its responsibilities in Our Front Page report yesterday'

' proiecting all and notjust protected of en- endangered ones," he said.dangered species by working closely with Responding to the Daily Express reportother enforcement agencies. on March rr, Ralmer said poaching of pro-

"We thank and appreciate the Daily Ex- tected animals, by its very nature, is secre-press as well as the general public's contin- tive.uing concern about the deaths of many "We cannot quantify and thus claim&nlr-; ;a::s+L4'5tr"a-*1^-,,irq

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