TEACHING KIDS TO SAY 'NO' TO ECSTASY

KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA will start motivational and training courses for
women on how to teach children to say "no'' to Ecstasy pills.

Party president Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik said that many
non-governmental organisations involving women were implementing
outreach programmes for children.

"For instance, children have been taught to say 'no' to strangers
coming up to them, and to run and tell other adults about their
experiences.

"These NGOs have agreed to incorporate lessons to teach children to
stay away from social ills like popping Ecstasy pills and illegal
gambling,'' he said after chairing a dialogue with about 30
organisations including Wanita MCA, the Malaysian Red Crescent
Society, Malaysian AIDS Council, Pemadam and the National Council of
Women's Organisations.

"Mothers and teachers need to instil in their children how, when and
the reasons why they should refuse Ecstasy pills,'' said Dr Ling.

He said that such training courses would be carried out as part of
Wanita MCA's plan to empower women through its Shopping Basket and One
Touch One campaigns.

"Some NGOs suggested that we rope in the younger generation in our
all-out war against Ecstasy as they can reach out better to the pill
poppers,'' said Dr Ling.

He said the party would enlist the help of athletes, undergraduates
and recording artistes to help make MCA's message more attractive to
youth.

Dr Ling said the MCA was also pushing for the sources of drugs to be
identified and action taken against them.

"These kingpins must be severely dealt with. They must be caught to
put an end to Ecstasy pills.

"Their sole motivating factor is money while one whole generation is
at stake,'' he said, adding that police assistance would be sought on
the matter.

"I am sure the (police) intelligence network will weed out those who
are guilty,'' he said.

In Klang, MCA Federal Territory chairman Datuk Tan Chai Ho said the
party had discovered that even 60-year-olds could be lured into taking
Ecstasy pills.

"In our survey, we found that Ecstasy pills are seducing the young as
well as the old.

"It is incorrect to assume that educated and mature people will not
fall prey to Ecstasy peddlers,'' he said at a dinner to celebrate the
completion of the Soon Fook new temple wing in Pandamaran near here on
Monday night.

Tan added that he had personally seen a 60-year-old man taking the
pill with drinks during a survey conducted in discos recently.

Tan called on the people, especially youth, to take care of their
health to ensure a bright future.