In an exclusive interview, Zaman told FMT that a more humane approach was needed when dealing with addicts as harsh sentences did not successfully rehabilitate an addict.
“Tell me, why do you cane a drug addict? Do you think by caning him, he will abandon drugs? The addict is sick and after the caning, he will probably be more vengeful.
“Instead, treat him like a sick person. You may not want to give him first-class treatment, but don’t put him in a lockup and start flogging him either.”
“Maybe put addicts in a third-class hospital with decent bed-sheets, but don’t go and sneer at them. I think this is where Malaysians must open their eyes,” he said.
The 78-year-old said he could relate to the evils of drugs as his own brother died of a drug overdose several years ago.
“I’m speaking about this not only because of other addicts, but because my family was personally affected by it. My brother died from an overdose and another relative died from HIV, caused by drug abuse.”
The former director of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) reminded the authorities that drugs were supposed to be the nation’s “number one enemy”, but lamented the lack of preventative notices warning of the dangers of drug abuse.
“When I was in Thailand, I saw a huge billboard saying that ketum is dangerous in Thai, Malay and English, whereas on the Malaysian side, we don’t have such billboards yet, despite the country being a ketum producer.”
Zaman said the government should take stronger measures in fighting the drug scourge while remaining humane in its approach in dealing with drug traffickers.
“Judges should be given the leeway to consider and propose a more humane sentence (for drug-related offenders).
Meanwhile, Zaman said he disagreed with suggestions to legalise marijuana in the country, pointing out that it could lead to bigger social problems in the future.
“You see, while they have not proven that marijuana is as addictive and as dangerous as other drugs, why legalise marijuana? People can live without legalisation.
“The moment it’s legalised, it might lead to bigger problems.
“Even in Europe, we can see that legalisation has caused a lot of social problems there,” he said.
Prevention, rather than punishment, should be the approach used when fighting the uphill battle against drugs, he added.
Zaman also said the government should allocate more money to train more “drug prevention” officers.
“If I have the time and energy, I would tell the young to stay away from drugs. Because once you’re hooked, you’re finished.”