Malaysia Sets Six New Key Strategies to Combat Rising Drug Threat, Says Ahmad Zahid

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 25: The Malaysian government has introduced six major strategic priorities to strengthen the country’s fight against drugs this year, amid a sharp rise in drug seizures and increasingly sophisticated syndicate operations, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

Ahmad Zahid, who chairs the Cabinet Committee on Drug Eradication, said the new focus areas include policy reform, community prevention, stigma-free treatment, digital technology adoption, and strengthening the anti-drug workforce.

He said the new strategy is aligned with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Directive No. 1 of 2024, aimed at improving coordination of the National Drug Policy across federal, state, and district levels.

“The fight against drugs can no longer be linear. It must be dynamic, responsive, and data-driven because the threat is becoming more complex and has direct implications for national security, public health, and social costs,” he said in a statement.

According to 2025 data, the total value of drug and poison seizures surged to RM3.19 billion, a significant increase compared with RM388.07 million in 2024. Authorities seized 89 tonnes of drugs and 132 tonnes of toxic substances, with methamphetamine accounting for more than 51 tonnes, making it the most seized drug.

Ahmad Zahid warned that the trend shows Malaysia continues to face aggressive cross-border drug syndicates. He also revealed that the 2025 Drug and Substance Abuse Report recorded 191,832 individuals involved in drug abuse, with Selangor reporting the highest number of cases.

More than half of the cases were detected through law enforcement arrests, while about 40 percent involved individuals undergoing treatment and rehabilitation in the community.

He said the government has amended the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 to strengthen the shift toward treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society.

The six key focus areas include revising the National Drug Policy, implementing a nationwide anti-drug communication campaign, strengthening community-based prevention programs, expanding voluntary treatment and rehabilitation services, adopting digital and artificial intelligence systems such as e-SMART and MySupport, and enhancing the anti-drug workforce and training institutions.

Ahmad Zahid stressed that combating drugs requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach, involving ministries, agencies, and the public in prevention, education, healthcare, youth development, housing, and employment initiatives.

“The government remains committed to safeguarding national security, public well-being, and the country’s future through evidence-based and strategic actions against the growing drug threat,” he said.