27/07/2025

NATIONAL 5 theSun on Sunday JULY 27, 2025 Efforts to protect youth from addiction questioned

Man fined RM300,000 for illegal possession of wildlife parts KUALA LUMPUR: An art museum owner was fined RM300,000 by the Sessions Court for possessing various protected wildlife parts without a licence or special permit in 2024. Judge Mohd Zaki Mohd Salleh sentenced Yiu Shoou Rang, 66, after he pleaded guilty to eight amended charges on Friday. The court also ordered nine months’ imprisonment in default of payment. Yiu paid the fine. He was charged with four counts of possessing, without a special permit, protected wildlife parts, including an orangutan skull, two crocodile skulls and seven elephant tusks, all of which are protected species under the Second Schedule of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716). The offences were committed at a business premises in Central Market, Jalan Hang Kasturi, at about 3.30pm on Jan 8, 2024. He was charged under Section 68(1)(b) of Act 716, which carries a fine of between RM50,000 and RM500,000, or imprisonment of up to three years, or both. Yiu also faced four additional charges of possessing other wildlife parts without a valid licence at the same time and location. The charges were framed under Section 60(1)(a) of Act 716, which provides a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both. DPP Suhaila Rashid had earlier urged the court to impose a sentence commensurate with the severity of the offence to serve as a deterrent. – Bernama Two motorcyclists killed in collision with lorry JOHOR BAHRU: Two motorcyclists were killed in a collision involving three vehicles at Km60.5 of Jalan Sungai Rengit in Kota Tinggi yesterday. District police chief Supt Yusof Othman said the two men, aged 18 and 19, sustained head injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. He said police received information regarding the crash, which involved two motorcycles and a lorry at 1.24am. “The collision is believed to have occurred when both motorcycles crashed into the rear of the lorry. The case is still under investigation. “The bodies of the victims were taken to the Kota Tinggi Hospital, while the lorry driver has yet to be traced.” – Bernama

strengthen Islamic identity and leadership among those aged 13 to 23, serving as an early intervention option to develop principled, competent and spiritually resilient youth. Nada employs a comprehensive approach in prevention and treatment, including public education, intervention for at-risk groups and focused rehabilitation. “ Zikir and the five daily prayers build discipline and values, and are also a form of dakwah incorporated into rehabilitation,” said Mahadzir. Former addict Muhammad Amin (not his real name), 30, said spiritual and community based approaches helped save him after seven years of addiction to syabu , driven by emotional distress. “No matter how big the problem, do not choose drugs. They are not a solution. Drugs destroy everything,” he said, adding that he has been clean for 16 months following voluntary treatment. The issue of drug addiction, especially among Malay youth, is not new. Awareness campaigns, enforcement measures and prevention efforts have been carried out by many parties for years, yet a definitive solution remains elusive. using the user identification (ID) of an officer manning the car zone counter. “The unit also detected foreign visitor records classified as problematic, requiring error correction by the on-duty supervisor and clearance of these records using the supervisor’s user ID at the motorcycle zone.” Further inspection at the car counter uncovered RM2,800 in cash and two mobile phones in the officer’s possession. Interrogation led to the discovery of 11 Chinese passports and three Indonesian passports hidden in a black bag above the ceiling of another counter. Roszita said two additional mobile phones were also seized from the motorcycle zone supervisor’s counter. Both suspects were handed to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission at about 10am yesterday for further action. The case has also been reported to the MBCA Integrity Unit in Putrajaya. “Our surveillance was carried out for about a week. Whether this misconduct involves a syndicate is still under investigation.” – Bernama

Systemic issue must be addressed collectively, not only through enforcement, says expert

PUTRAJAYA: data showing that a majority of drug addicts in Malaysia are Malay youths, questions are being raised about the effectiveness of the country’s social support system in protecting the public from an addiction crisis. Information from the National Anti-Drugs Agency (Nada) indicates that Malay males aged between 15 and 39 make up about 70% of the total addicts in the country. This has sparked concern, as this demographic should be an asset to the country, not fall victim to a cycle of addiction that damages individuals and family institutions. Nada Prevention Education principle assistant director Mahadzir Elias described the phenomenon as a systemic issue that must be addressed collectively, not just through enforcement. “If our (community) is overrun with drugs, we cannot blame the police. We are members of that (community). If it is our own child who gets involved, we cannot put the blame on (others),” he told Bernama. He added that communities must act as support systems by playing an active role, With

importance of safe spaces within families and communities to prevent youth from going astray. In rehabilitation efforts, the Islamic Development Department has adopted new approaches by engaging target groups via social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and podcasts, in line with a call by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to strengthen dakwah and counselling in addressing drug addiction. On the ground, mosques such as Masjid Putra in Putrajaya serve as centres for spiritual rehabilitation and community support, offering modules in prayer, zikir , halaqah and family involvement. “This is not only spiritual rehabilitation but also repairing family bonds damaged by drug abuse. Dakwah approaches for Malay youth must keep pace with the times,” Mohd Na’im said. The MyInsaniah initiative has also been introduced to

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monitoring youths. “This group could become a social time bomb that destroys families, undermines the strength of the nation and jeopardises the future of the country.” Questions have arisen on whether the drug addiction crisis could have stemmed from poor communication within families. Many teenagers are believed to fall into addiction not merely due to external influences but because they lack safe spaces for expression and sharing. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said in addition to social pressures and environmental factors, the failure to establish effective communication between parents and children is a contributor to the problem. “Do not let life’s pressures or gaps in communication rob children of their future.” He emphasised the

Enforcement officers arrested over alleged ‘Flying Passport’ case JOHOR BAHRU: Two

said the suspects, a 31-year-old officer and a 49-year-old supervisor, were detained at 9pm following surveillance by the agency’s Compliance Unit. She said surveillance at 7.30pm detected several suspicious visitor data entries

The practice refers to the misuse of passports, including clearing them illegally without the holders being physically present. Border Control and Protection Agency (MBCA) BSI CIQ commander Roszita Dim

enforcement officers were arrested at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex on Friday night over alleged involvement in a “Flying Passport” case.

Items seized during the operation included 14 foreign passports and RM2,800 in cash.– BERNAMAPIC