STIFF PENALTIES THE ANSWER

THE Ecstasy pill has been menacing the country for quite a while now.

It is comforting to know that at least several parties are campaigning to
fight the pill-popping culture.

Stopping youths from taking the pill is not the only way to curb the spread
of this social illness.

Imposing stiffer penalties on manufacturers, traffickers, pushers and users
will cause a setback to the progress of this Ecstasy plague.

Ecstasy, a derivative of amphetamine, is considered a psychotropic drug and
in Malaysia we have the Poisons Act 1952 which regulates the import,
manufacture, compounding, storage, possession, transport, sale and use of
such a drug.

Any person found guilty of importing, exporting, manufacturing, selling,
supplying or possessing any psychotropic substances according to regulations
under this Act would be punished.

However, the penalties imposed by the Act under Section 30 (Psychotropic
Substance) is insufficient to punish the syndicates behind the Ecstasy
scourge.

Under subsection (5) relating to psychotropic substances, offenders would
only be liable to a small fine of RM10,000 or a jail term not exceeding four
years upon conviction.

I strongly believe that the fine should be reviewed considering the fact
that the syndicates earn millions of ringgit in revenue.

The jail term should also be reviewed, especially for the manufacturer of
the pill.

Stiffer penalties would not only stop new manufacturers from "mushrooming''
but also intimidate users since possession of such substances is deemed to
be unlawful.

I hope the Health Ministry would look into this matter.

Ben C.H. Tang, Bandar Puchong Jaya. (via e-mail)