Pubdate: Mon, 22 Jun 2009
Source: New Straits Times (Malaysia)
Copyright: 2009 New Straits Times
Contact:  http://www.nst.com.my/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3734
Author: Jason Gerald John

HOSTILE RECEPTION TO DADAH OP

MALACCA: An operation by the state National Anti-Dadah  Agency (AADK)
to weed out drug addicts in Serkam drew  heat from hostile villagers
and a local assemblyman  even tried to prevent the suspects from being
taken for  a urine test. Serkan assemblyman Ghazale Mohamad told  the
agency's officers that he would report the matter  to Chief Minister
Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam.

The commotion started when the authorities confiscated  the MyKad of
six suspected addicts from Serkam Pantai,  who refused to follow AADK
officers to the Home  Ministry Complex in Ayer Keroh for a urine test.

Media members who joined the AADK during the operation  heard a few
villagers utter abusive words at the  authorities, which also included
Rela members.

Ghazale arrived at the scene after a villager called  him on his
mobile phone.

He questioned the AADK's decision to hold the operation  in the area
and told state AADK director Ibrahim Bujang  that he would raise the
matter with Ali.

The AADK, Rela and media members then left the scene  with 26 youths
from three of four target locations near  Anjung Batu Jetty and around
Serkam Pantai.

The four coordinated operations, which began at 11pm on  Saturday,
were supposed to be huge affairs but turned  out to be disappointing
as all the youths brought in  for urine tests tested negative for drugs.

At a press conference later, Ibrahim said Ops Serkam  was to be a
major bust because intelligence received  indicated that it was a
major "port" for addicts in the  state.

"We received orders from our headquarters to weed out  the addicts in
the area.

"In fact, over the past six months, we have nabbed 78  addicts in the
Melaka Tengah area and a majority of  them came from Serkam."

On the operations last night, Ibrahim said the round-up  operations
were not a total failure. He called on  villagers to understand the
functions of the AADK.

"We are trying to help the community by preventing  their area from
being used as a 'port' for dadah  addiction. We received complaints
from the villagers  there but when we went there we were prevented
from  carrying out our duties.

"The commotion created by the villagers has not  dampened our spirits.
We will plan another operation in  which we will go deeper into the
villages in Serkam.

"Our objective is to clear the area of dadah addicts  and we will
ensure we are successful," he said,  refusing to comment on Ghazale's
actions. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr