KUCHING – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Malaysia has reinforced its partnership with the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development during a courtesy visit on Friday, aimed at strengthening joint efforts to address drug abuse in Sarawak.
Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the meeting provided an opportunity for her ministry to present Sarawak’s comprehensive approach to tackling drugs and illicit substances through the One Stop Committee (OSC) mechanism.
She explained that the OSC brings together strategic partners to address the issue in a balanced and holistic manner.
“This approach includes efforts to cut off supply, reduce demand, implement recovery and strengthen advocacy in addition to helping those who have recovered to become independent and return to regular society,” she said.
Dato Sri Fatimah emphasised that Sarawak’s strategy is built on four pillars: enforcement, prevention, rehabilitation, and advocacy.
She noted that the state government places equal importance on each element to ensure that individuals who have recovered from addiction can reintegrate into society and lead independent lives.
The courtesy visit was led by Eric Van Der Veen, UNODC Malaysia Country Head, who expressed interest in observing Sarawak’s model first-hand.
He highlighted that UNODC is keen to learn from the state’s leadership in prevention and treatment, and to explore ways to support its initiatives.
Van Der Veen added that UNODC is ready to assist Sarawak by providing training programmes, developing prevention modules that meet international standards, and building a global technical network to enhance the effectiveness of interventions.
The collaboration reflects Sarawak’s commitment to tackling drug abuse through coordinated action involving government agencies, community organisations, and international partners.
Officials noted that the OSC mechanism has already proven effective in fostering cooperation across different sectors, ensuring that strategies are not only preventive but also rehabilitative.
Dato Sri Fatimah reiterated that the ministry’s priority is to ensure that recovered individuals are empowered to return to society with dignity.
She stressed that advocacy and awareness campaigns remain vital in reducing demand and preventing relapse, while enforcement continues to target supply chains.
The strengthened cooperation between UNODC and Sarawak is expected to enhance the state’s capacity to combat drug abuse, while positioning Sarawak as a model for integrated approaches in the region.
