HOSTILE RECEPTION TO DADAH OP

MALACCA: An operation by the state National Anti-Dadah Agency (AADK)
to weed out drug addicts in Serkam drew heat from hostile villagers
and a local assemblyman even tried to prevent the suspects from being
taken for a urine test. Serkan assemblyman Ghazale Mohamad told the
agency's officers that he would report the matter to Chief Minister
Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam.

The commotion started when the authorities confiscated the MyKad of
six suspected addicts from Serkam Pantai, who refused to follow AADK
officers to the Home Ministry Complex in Ayer Keroh for a urine test.

Media members who joined the AADK during the operation heard a few
villagers utter abusive words at the authorities, which also included
Rela members.

Ghazale arrived at the scene after a villager called him on his
mobile phone.

He questioned the AADK's decision to hold the operation in the area
and told state AADK director Ibrahim Bujang that he would raise the
matter with Ali.

The AADK, Rela and media members then left the scene with 26 youths
from three of four target locations near Anjung Batu Jetty and around
Serkam Pantai.

The four coordinated operations, which began at 11pm on Saturday,
were supposed to be huge affairs but turned out to be disappointing
as all the youths brought in for urine tests tested negative for drugs.

At a press conference later, Ibrahim said Ops Serkam was to be a
major bust because intelligence received indicated that it was a
major "port" for addicts in the state.

"We received orders from our headquarters to weed out the addicts in
the area.

"In fact, over the past six months, we have nabbed 78 addicts in the
Melaka Tengah area and a majority of them came from Serkam."

On the operations last night, Ibrahim said the round-up operations
were not a total failure. He called on villagers to understand the
functions of the AADK.

"We are trying to help the community by preventing their area from
being used as a 'port' for dadah addiction. We received complaints
from the villagers there but when we went there we were prevented
from carrying out our duties.

"The commotion created by the villagers has not dampened our spirits.
We will plan another operation in which we will go deeper into the
villages in Serkam.

"Our objective is to clear the area of dadah addicts and we will
ensure we are successful," he said, refusing to comment on Ghazale's
actions.