KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — Malaysia will not adopt the Philippines’ strategy of encouraging vigilante action to combat the drug menace, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.
He explained that while Putrajaya was keen to reduce drug trafficking, it did not consider the measures introduced by the Duterte administration to be right for Malaysia.
“We respect the method undertaken by them but it is only suitable for their country. Malaysia will be using our own method, especially in enforcing the laws we currently have,” Ahmad Zahid told reporters after a meeting by the Cabinet Committee on Eradication of Drugs today.
One method that was being considered was the seizure of assets used in drug trafficking and for resultant funds to be channelled back towards rehabilitation, prevention and enforcement of laws against drugs, he said.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has authorised a war against drugs since being elected, one that has been responsible for at least 3,000 extra-judicial killings both by law enforcers and vigilantes in the country.
