Malaysia’s ‘No 1 enemy’ is escalating drug abuse, deputy PM warns
Malaysia now has nearly 200,000 drug users – most aged 15 to 39 – with states bordering Thailand showing the highest abuse rates
He said there were 192,857 drug users and addicts in the country – out of a population of around 35 million – with 61 per cent of them aged between 15 and 39, as of 2024.
“Of this number, 96 per cent are male, driven largely by peer influence and curiosity,” Ahmad Zahid said in a statement after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Eradicating Drug Abuse on Monday, Bernama reported.
To address the growing problem and increasingly complex challenges, Ahmad Zahid said the committee had approved the Anti-Drug Communication Plan 2025-2027.
He said the plan’s comprehensive and targeted approach focuses on promoting behavioural change, increasing awareness and delivering accurate information through coordinated efforts across multiple agencies.