A Lot Of Details To Classify Ketum Under Dangerous Drugs, Says Chua

PETALING JAYA, April 23 (Bernama) -- Many details have to be looked into before ketum leaves and drinks can be classified under the Dangerous Drugs Act, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said Monday.
For instance, he said, the cultivation and possession of the leaves used as traditional medicine by the village folk were not illegal.
"It is only illegal if a person owns ketum products or ketum powder. So these are the things that the police and the Attorney-General should look into before classifying the leaves under the act," he said Monday.
He was commenting on a statement by Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Mohamed Johari Baharum yesterday that the amendment to the law should be speeded up to curtail the increasing incidence of ketum abuse.
Ketum, which is classified under the Poisons Act, contains mipragyniene -- a psychotropic drug used by addicts.
It is used by villagers as a medicine for fever, cough, sexual enhancement and to increase one's appetite.
Dr Chua said that the other things the police and AG should also look into were the quantity and quality of ketum and whether a person possessing the leaves was liable under the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Earlier, he launched the National Stroke Association of Malaysia's (Nasam) stroke book, "Understanding Stroke".
He said hypertension, a predominant risk factor for stroke, had become more prevalent among Malaysians.
The number of people admitted to the government hospitals would increase from 17,909 in 2005 to more than 25,000 in 2020 if the country's populace did not practise a healthy lifestyle, he added.
He said there were now six cases of stroke reported every hour and 52,000 cases per year.
Fatalities due to stroke had increased from 2,257 in 1990 to 3,245 two years ago.
"The most efficient way to prevent stroke is to educate the people on the causes, signs and symptoms of the disease," he said.
Dr Chua commended Nasam for the publication of the book to create greater awareness among the people about stroke. The book in Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and English is available at the Nasam centres in Petaling Jaya, Ampang, Ipoh, Melaka, Penang and Sabah.