HOME MINISTRY'S ANTI-ECSTASY MOVE WELCOMED

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA welcomes the decision by the Home Ministry to clamp down
on property owners who allow their premises to be used to make Ecstasy pills.

Party president Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik said this was also an
indication of the authorities' frustration in the fight against the scourge
of Ecstasy and illegal horse slot machines.

"This is because we don't have sufficient legal instruments to really knock
hard at these pushers and illegal gambling outlets.

"These menaces are really infiltrating the society and they have reached
stages where all races are vulnerable and targeted,'' he said after
presenting excellence awards to the Transport Ministry staff here yesterday.

On Sunday, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Zainal Abidin Zin had said property
owners who allowed their premises to be used to make Ecstasy pills could be
arrested under the Dangerous Drugs Act for abetting their tenants.

Dr Ling said MCA would also encourage other Barisan Nasional component
parties to come up with their own action programmes to combat the social ills.

The Education Ministry, he said, had arranged for seminars on anti-Ecstasy
to be conducted in 80 schools within the Klang Valley.

"MCA is also gearing to start airing public information advertisements on
Ecstasy soon.

"We have already started shooting the ads.

"I would also like to thank some of the state mentris besar and chief
ministers who have personally taken an interest and the lead in our
fight,'' he said.