KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 – The Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (Amendment) Bill 2014 to curb the abuse of ketum leaves is being fine-tuned for tabling in Parliament next year. Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said it would take time to provide a new definition for ketum leaves so that it could be listed as a dangerous drug, as abuse of organic substances for hallucination was now placed under the Poisons Act 1952.
“We will table (the bill) again next year, as there are many areas which have to be reviewed and it will not be on time for this year,” he said. Meanwhile, he was also asked to comment on the announcement of Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahya yesterday that the Home Ministry would be taking over from the Health Ministry to table the bill relating to abuse of ketum leaves.
In the meantime, the Health Ministry had to withdraw the bill in Parliament following objections to the proposed definition of abuse as it was feared could victimise villagers who plant and use the substance for medical and health purposes. Nur Jazlan also said to the date, the ministry had yet to be informed officially on taking over the role from the Health Ministry to table the bill in Parliament.
