Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : THE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL KUALA LUMPUR
Tarikh/Date : 14/03/88
Tajuk/Title : THE EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC REGIONAL
NARCOTICS CONFERENCE
His Excellency
Mr. John Monjo;
Excellencies;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
First and foremost I would like to extent the greetings
of His Excellency Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, Prime
Minister of Malaysia to all present. His Excellency also
extent his appoligies for not being able to be present with
you all today in this occasion and has requested me to
deliver you his address.
I would like to thank the organisers for inviting me to
address this East Asia and Pacific Regional Narcotics
Conference for United States officials. I understand that
this meeting brings together, for the second time in
Malaysia, United States officials dealing in drug matters
from the East Asia and Pacific region with officials from
Washington to exchange information on drug policies, issues
and trends. I wish you 'Selamat Datang' to Malaysia.
2. Drug abuse and illicit trafficking in drugs are amongst
the greatest threats to mankind today. When abused,
narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances become a force
of evil and destroy the lives of thousands of individuals
and jeopardise the security and stability of nations. Drug
addiction and illicit trafficking continue to spread
worldwide and almost every country in the world suffers a
broad range of tragic consequences from drug abuse.
3. It is imperative that we take prompt and decisive
actions to eliminate drug abuse and illicit trafficking from
within our midst. For the campaign to be really successful
it will require global action and the cooperation of all
countries to coordinate a comprehensive strategy to
eliminate this deadly menace. All countries will have to
close rank and work together. The war against drugs has to
be a total war. Many countries have come to realise this
as borne by their presence at the International Conference
on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (ICDAIT) held in
Vienna last June.
4. ICDAIT has brought together 138 nations and 173
specialised agencies and non-governmental organisations,
determined to commit themselves to reducing and eventually
eradicating drug abuse and illicit trafficking. ICDAIT
agreed that vigorous and cohesive action by all governments
and international organisations was required on all fronts
to attain this goal. The Declaration adopted by the
Conference is a clear expression of our collective political
will and commitment to respond to the drug menace. It
underlines a shared responsibility to provide appropriate
response and resources to combat drug abuse and illicit
trafficking. This Declaration also provides strong
encouragement to all countries to reinforce and give
priority to the anti-drug drive. Subsequent to ICDAIT, I am
happy to note that many countries are becoming more serious
in their efforts to reduce the production, supply of and
demand for drugs and to curb illicit trafficking, both at
national and international levels.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
5. There is growing acknowledgement among countries that
crop substitution must finally lead to crop eradication and
elimination. I feel that this process needs to be speeded
up. Countries producing narcotic drugs cannot and should
not be tardy. This is where the United States of America
and other developed countries who are major donors for rural
development or crop substitution in producing countries
should ensure that eradication targets are met. Further
financial assistance to producing countries should be
conditional upon adherence to an agreed time schedule for
crop eradication.
6. Together with this, an effective crop eradication
programme would require an evaluation of the project area to
determine the success of the programme. It also requires
policing of areas where crops have been destroyed and
substituted to ensure that there is no illegal replanting
of poppy, coca or cannabis. In this regard we may consider
the possibility of establishing a United Nations Force to
work together with producing countries in the eradication or
destruction of the crop and the policing of the area; or
assisting producing countries to strengthen policing and
enforcement capabilities in crop substitution areas to
prevent replanting. Your field officers should be very
critical in their assessment of such projects. Only with
determination can we succeed in crop eradication which is an
important element in supply reduction.
7. Cross border problems make production, manufacturing
and trafficking of opiates and its derivatives in this
region more difficult to control. I am sure the United
States Government is facing similar problems and may in
fact be seeking new forms of cooperation with and among
bordering countries in producing areas. The strengthening
of mutual cooperation among countries in the suppression of
illicit trafficking in drugs and other controlled substances
through land-locked contiguous borders may also take the
form of hot pursuits. Countries with contiguous borders when
contacted for assistance in hot pursuits could render such
assistance without delay and in an expeditious manner.
8. In view of the increasing audacity of drug barons
Malaysia welcomes the effort towards an early negotiation of
the Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances to supplement the two existing
Conventions on drugs. Let us not slacken in our resolve to
produce a strong and effective instrument to deal with them.
Recognising the trans-national dimensions of illicit
trafficking and the impunity with which traffickers operate
across borders, let us act responsively and decisively to
deny safe havens for traffickers and their unlawfully
acquired assets and properties. In this regard the Malaysian
Parliament is deliberating a Bill to provide for the
forfeiture of instrumentalities, proceeds and properties
derived from illicit trafficking of drugs as well as a
comprehensive scheme for providing legal assistance to
requesting countries. Another measure that has proven to be
successful in Malaysia and other countries is the
deprivation of travel documents, passports and passes of
suspected or convicted drug traffickers.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
9. Malaysia began the war against heroin in the early
1970s. We have, since 1983, undertaken a national Anti-Drug
Campaign and formulated an Anti-Drug Action Plan. Our
aggressive anti-drug efforts following this campaign has
resulted in a decrease in the incidence rate from 14,624
persons in 1983 to 7,596 persons in 1987. There has also
been a decrease in the number of foreign nationals
apprehended in Malaysia for drug trafficking. This decrease
could be attributed to the strict enforcement of our drug
laws and our primary prevention efforts.
10. In Malaysia, experience has taught us that in order to
effectively counter the drug problem action must be taken in
a coordinated and integrated manner. The political
leadership has to work in tandem with the administrative and
judicial system in the country. There has to be clear
definition of roles and responsibilities among and between
government agencies, non-governmental organisations and the
community. Differing values and attitudes towards
dependent-producing drugs and substances should not divert
us from pursuing a tough policy on addiction and
trafficking.
11. In line with the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary
Outline (CMO) adopted by ICDAIT, Malaysia is of the view
that future actions in drug abuse control and prevention
should encompass every aspect of the problem including
primary prevention, rehabilitation, legislation and
enforcement, manpower development, research and evaluation
and international collaboration and co-ordination. In
consideration of the fact that the production and
availability of illicit drugs cannot be eliminated through
enforcement measures alone equal if not higher priority, has
to be accorded to the intensification of efforts in the
field of primary prevention and also rehabilitation.
12. A wider framework of action giving greater weightage to
demand reduction would be called for. Major consuming
countries should look into the problem of demand for drugs
as reduced demand will stifle supply. Therefore, there is
need for a multi-pronged approach to this complex problem.
Strategies and programmes need to be innovative and
scrupulously enforced and adhered to.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
13. This annual gathering of United States Officials
dealing with drug matters in the East Asia and Pacific
region will certainly strengthen existing efforts to combat
the drug menace internationally. The opportunity to work
together for a common good should not be allowed to slip by.
I am sure that these meetings have contributed towards
fostering closer relations between countries in the East
Asia and Pacific region and the United States of America.
14. Malaysia and the United States have for some years now
worked very closely in the drug field both at bilateral and
multilateral levels. I sincerely hope that our joint and
uncompromising efforts would contribute towards curbing drug
production, abuse and illicit trafficking in our respective
regions.
15. I wish you every success in your deliberations during
the next three days.
Thank you.
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