Saifuddin Nasution warns poverty and drugs, not racial fears, are Malays’ real enemies

MELAKA — PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has cautioned that poverty and drug addiction, rather than racial concerns, pose the most significant threats to Malays. He argued that Malays are not endangered by other races in the country but rather by their economic struggles and problematic substance use. Nasution cited data from the Ministry of Health and National Anti-Drug Agency, revealing that drug addiction rates among Malays hover around 560 per 100,000 individuals.

However, he highlighted alarming figures from states like Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu, where rates exceed 1,000 per 100,000, indicating a severe issue within Malay communities. He underscored that the peak age group affected is between 15 and 39, particularly those with limited education up to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia level.

Nasution emphasized that neglecting state development and job creation leads to the involvement of young Malays in drug-related activities, which he considers a severe threat to the Malay community.