Gov't amending law to ban cultivation of kratom
PARLIAMENT | Putrajaya will table an amendment to Poison Act 1952 to ban the cultivation, supply, import and export of kratom, Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said today.
This is to prevent the abuse of kratom, he told the Dewan Rakyat during the question-and-answer session...
PARLIAMENT | Putrajaya will table an amendment to Poison Act 1952 to ban the cultivation, supply, import and export of kratom, Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said today.
This is to prevent the abuse of kratom, he told the Dewan Rakyat during the question-and-answer session.
"Kratom is used by the people in northern Malaysia as traditional medical treatment.
"However, lately, there has been kratom abuse leading to addiction, where the ministry received patients who turned up at the clinic after taking substances," Lee said in response to a question from Shahbudin Yahaya (Harapan-Tasek Gelugor).
"In many cases, the abuse of kratom is paired with other substances such as alcoholic drinks, opiate, meths and amphetamines. This is one step before they become addicted to drugs.
"Since kratom cannot be controlled properly, the ministry is in the process of amending the Poison Act by including the control of psychoactive plants like kratom," he added.
According to Lee (photo), police confiscated 89,060 litres of kratom liquid and 80,938kg of kratom leaves in 2017. A total of 8,118 people were also arrested for allegedly abusing kratom.
Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) then questioned the need for such drastic action, as kratom can be used widely used in medical treatments.
He added that neighbouring Thailand makes a profit by exporting kratom to the US and UK.
In response, Lee reiterated that abusing kratom is the first step before youths turn to hard drugs.
"This has become a problem. This is the reason why the government does not encourage the cultivation of kratom," he said.
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