Four Malaysian states report drug abuse rates far above national average, says Home Minister
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah and Perlis have drug abuse rates well above the national average of 381 per 100,000.
Saifuddin Nasution Ismail reported that four east-coast states—Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah and Perlis—have drug abuse rates exceeding the national average of 381 per 100,000 people. Terengganu tops the list with 735 per 100,000, while Kelantan, Kedah and Perlis follow at 694, 669 and 646 respectively. Nationwide, 130,307 individuals were identified as drug abusers in June, predominantly aged 15 to 39 and holding SPM qualifications or less.
The highest proportion of users are unemployed, with the self-employed and private-sector workers next. Amphetamine-type stimulants, a synthetic drug category, represent roughly 84% of usage, with cannabis also common. Saifuddin said the data, sourced from the National Anti-Drugs Agency, will guide evidence-based anti-drug campaigns and hotspot mapping similar to flood-risk systems.
Why it matters
Understanding regional drug abuse patterns helps target prevention and rehabilitation efforts where they are most needed.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps report the same drug-abuse statistics, but the right-leaning coverage adds demographic details and policy implications that the centrist coverage omits.
CENTER
Centrist coverage relays the minister’s statistics on drug-addict numbers and state-by-state rates without additional analysis.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage presents the same statistics while highlighting the age, education, employment profile of users and the prevalence of amphetamine-type stimulants, framing the data as a basis for targeted anti-drug campaigns.
The right emphasises
- Users are predominantly aged 15 to 39 with SPM qualifications or less
- Highest proportion are unemployed, followed by self-employed and private-sector workers
- Amphetamine-type stimulants account for roughly 84% of usage
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