The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) urged the Baling District Council in Kedah and relevant authorities to take immediate action against people selling alcohol and glue illegally to Orang Asli communities in the area.

CAP president SM Mohamed Idris said selling illicit products had led to an increasing number of children and women in the community becoming addicted to alcohol and glue sniffing.

"Our survey has shown that more than 30 children between the ages of nine and 15 are consuming alcohol and sniffing glue bought from a shop in Kampung Lalang," he said in a statement in George Town today.

He said CAP also found that there were outsiders coming to the villages in Baling to sell these illegal products to the community there.

"A can of glue and a bottle of alcohol are sold at RM5 each and villagers there who are addicted are spending up to RM25 per person a day," he said.

Mohamed Idris said alcohol addiction and glue sniffing can pose a great threat to the health and lives of the people in the villages there.

He also urged the Village and Security Committee (JKKK), relevant ministries and government agencies to take action as well as conduct awareness programmes to curb these social issues.

"Awareness programmes about the adverse effects of alcohol and glue sniffing should be conducted actively and widely among the villages and communities in the area, especially among children, adolescents and women," he said.

Glue sniffing has been known to cause permanent brain damage and can even result in death.

- Bernama