Sabah to Focus on Eliminating Demand and Supply of Illicit Drugs

Drug addicts and substance users in Sabah increase by 7.5 per cent from 8,567 in 2023. The national target is to not have 400 drug addicts and abusers for every 100,000 population. Sabah has recorded a rate of 246 addicts. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said that trend is on an upward trend nation-wide. “The trend is worrying,” Hajiji said.

“We must step up efforts to address this problem, and especially in curbing the supply and demand of drugs in the state.” Hajiji chaired a State Drug Eradication Action Council (Majlis Tindakan Membanteras Dadah or MTMD) on 21 April 2025, at Menara Kinabalu, during which he said that for 2025, the priority is to neutralise two high-risk areas, namely Penampang and Balung, Tawau. The presidents of the two municipal councils were appointed as MTMD chairmen to assist in tackling the issue.

Hajiji said action plans include to maintain the “green” status of seven high-risk areas, namely Likas, Inanam, Luagan, Patikang dan Tuarid Taud, Tanjung Batu and Merotai. "We need your feedbacks on the efforts to eradicate drug problem in Sabah in order to achieve the Drug Under Control 2025 goal," Hajiji told the meeting. “Drug abuse is still the country's Number 1 enemy. We need to eliminate the threat.”