REP: CLASSIFY PILL-RELATED DEATHS SEPARATELY

PENANG: Police have been urged to classify all Ecstasy-related deaths under
a special category to make society see the alarming rate of deaths brought
about by the so-called "Happy Pill.''

Jawi state assemblywoman Tan Cheng Liang said many accidents, murders and
suicides had occurred while the victims or assailants were under the
influence of the drug but such facts were not recorded in post-mortems and
police reports.

"It's only with such statistics that the public, especially youths, can see
for themselves the real dangers faced by those under the influence of the
pill,'' she told reporters after closing a flower-pressing course organised
by Hawa at the Caring Society Complex yesterday.

Tan said she had recorded nine fatal cases in her constituency so far.

"For example, two youths who were high on the pill when they were killed in
a road accident recently.

"But both the forensic and police reports did not indicate that they were
under the influence of the pill,'' she said.

Tan also urged the Health Ministry to direct the medical fraternity to
verify if certain mishaps or deaths occurred because of the influence of
the drug.

She said the police, local authorities and district offices should
co-ordinate efforts in carrying out enforcement activities at entertainment
outlets.

"We often hear of the police raiding such outlets, but they have no
authority to close down places where Ecstasy is found to be used widely.

"Only the district office and local authority concerned can issue such
notices,'' she said.