DRUG ABUSE (Steps to curb)

Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether drug abuse is on the increase again; and, if so, what further steps are being taken to curb this problem.

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member will recall that in January this year, in answer to his question, I informed the House of the local and regional drug scene and the measures which we would take to contain the problem. In March, during the debate in the Committee of Supply, I had occasion to give further details. Since then, the drug situation in this region has continued to deteriorate. The Director of the Central Narcotics Bureau has informed me that more opium is expected to be produced this year in the Golden Triangle area. Therefore, more heroin is likely to be available in this region.

The drug abuse problem in Singapore has risen, from 4,730 arrested drug offenders in 1987 to 6,062 in 1988. However, in the first quarter of 1989, the numbers have come down slightly to 1,274. Heroin abuse continues to be the serious and main drug of abuse. The trend of new Malay heroin addicts detected also continues to be high. In the first quarter of this year, 310 new heroin addicts were detected, of which 62% were Malays.

Apart from the measures which I had previously mentioned in this House, new measures that are being taken to curb the problem of drug abuse include the following:

1. We will install additional instant urine testing (IUT) machines at every police headquarters station to identify and ferret out drug addicts;

2. My Ministry, Central Narcotics Bureau, SANA will cooperate with the Malay Task Force to finalize strategies to tackle the problem of Malay drug addicts;

3. We will assist SANA this year to launch their anti-drug abuse campaign in September/November which is important in constantly reminding the public, espe- cially parents, of the dangers of drug abuse.

Finally, the Government will also introduce amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act to ensure that the law continues to be effective to combat the problem. The amendments will include extending the death penalty for trafficking offences involving opium, cannabis and cocaine.

Dr Vasoo: Sir, when are the amendments to the law likely to be implemented?

Prof. Jayakumar: Sir, the law officers are now drafting the legislation and I expect to introduce the Bill during the course of this year, hopefully within the next few months.