Despite the many steps taken by the authorities and other organisations to curb the smuggling, peddling and abuse of drugs, the number of addicts in our society is still rising.

The same goes with illegal immigrants. Apparently, they are just impossible to eradicate. At the rate it is going, another 18,000 people are expected to become drug addicts every year. That's scary. This almost equals one-third of the number of students graduating from our universities annually.

If this trend continues unabated, by the year 2020 the country is expected to have more than one million drug addicts. If nothing concrete is done to curb this threat, it will be a real menace to our society.

They would bring about many more social ills that could undoubtedly impede the country's economic growth. About RM40 million is now spent yearly to rehabilitate the estimated 35,000 addicts we know of, and just imagine how much of the tax payers' money is going to be spent in 2020 to do the same.

With the vast number of illegal immigrants - a projection of more than five million by 2020 if unrestrained - imagine the colossal costs for deportation and maintenance of detention centres in the country. This will again be at the expense of taxpayers.

Could corruption - monetary lure too lucrative and tempting for the greedy - in society be a contributing factor to some of these social problems? Corruption at any level of society is an amoral activity that could encourage unlawful activities and must be controlled, if not stopped altogether.

If graft is seen as a normal practice in life, or as a 'lubricant' in our daily chores to get legal or illegal things done speedily, in the long run it is going to destroy society. We must act now before it is too late.

The society needs more informers who could help the authorities eradicate this menace. Our prime minister is doing what he thinks best for society because his conscience tells him that corruption in any forms is against the edicts of all major religions. He needs the support from the people.

The view, according to some, that there will be a backlash from among party members is a shallow analysis of the real situation. Justice should prevail and rest assured that he would get overwhelming support from the majority. Thus walk the talk without fear or favour.