Duterte's methods in combating drugs won't work in M'sia: Zahid (Updated)

PUTRAJAYA: The approach used by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to combat drugs in his country cannot be applied in Malaysia said Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid said he agrees with the statement made by Deputy Home Affairs Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed that the approach may have seen good results in the Philippines but is not suitable to carry out a similar approach here.
"I agree with the statement made by my deputy minister (Nur Jazlan). It may have been effective there and even Indonesia may have implemented a similar approach, but we should not be implementing other country's ways here," he told the media after attending the ministry's monthly meeting.
Zahid, whose also the deputy prime minister, said Malaysia has its own ways to curb drug problems in the country which includes religious rehabilitation of those arrested in relation to drug offences.
"Drugs are not just a problem in Malaysia, it is a global problem. We have seen successful rehabilitation through religious and faith-based rehabilitation efforts. We cannot just tackle the problem through scientific approaches, religious rehabilitation has shown results. Also now, after working closely with border control bodies, NGOs and NGOs, the National Drug Policy has already been passed," he said.
Duterte's drug war has been criticised in the Philippines and internationally for its alleged summary executions, which has caused thousands of deaths from police operations.
It was reported that more than 14,000 people have been killed in the drug war since the policy was put in place this March.
National Anti Drug Agency (AADK) Director General Datuk Abd Halim Mohd Hussein said that after the National Drug Policy was approved by the cabinet in March, there has been more done to eradicate drugs.
"One of the steps we have taken is through community empowerment. The minister also recently suggested that we carry out community rehabilitation. We have faith-based efforts carried out in rehabilitation centres," Abd Halim said.
Zahid also said that previously, Asean had set a target for the region to be free from drugs by 2015, but the time has now been extended to 2020.