KANGAR, Aug 6 — Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man has lauded Home Ministry’s (KDN) decision to prohibit the cultivation of ketum trees for commercial reason.
“I fully agree with the decision and serious about curbing ketum since many youths in Perlis have become addicted to ketum juice,” he told reporters after launching National Cooperatives Day 2016 celebration at Taman Rekreasi Tasik Melati, here today.
On Aug 4, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government decided to prohibit the cultivation of ketum trees for commercial reason as allowing it would bring more harm than good.
Meanwhile, the Perlis Malay Association (Pemanis) said the decision to prohibit the cultivation of ketum trees was good since most of the ketum addicts were Malays.
Its president, Datuk Md Zain Hamzah told Bernama the prohibition would be able to control the addiction problem that had become prevalent in Perlis for a long time.
Chairman of State Welfare, Women and Family Affairs Committee, Rela Ahmad said the prohibition decision would benefit the family institution, especially the young.
“The prohibition of ketum cultivation for commercial reason will be able to control the addiction problem among youths and create a society of higher quality,” she added.
On cooperatives, Azlan said members should work towards increasing the revenue by looking at the larger high-tech sectors.
He added the cooperatives should not only concentrate on the traditional sectors such as retailing, wholesaling and loans. — Bernama
