KDN : PP19356/08/2018(034949) | Singapore MICA : MCI (P) 079/12/2019
the
Iskandar Malaysia’s Official Newspaper is an effort by True Soul Media PLT & Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA)
ISSUE 98
|
OCT 2020
UMLand Launches Topaz Residenz, Section 2 at Seri Alam Township
FEARLESS: Johor Southern Tiger Series Set to Roar on Screen Page 12
Page 25
|
Accumulating Wealth Opportunities in the Bubbles (Part 2) Page 17
Drug Abuse Among School Students in Johor 2020: Where Did We Go Wrong?
Drugs test conducted in 280 secondary schools statewide shows 3 digits number of students were positive of drugs use - Image for illustration only
An ongoing battle to save a generation from succumbing to substance addiction
T
he nation, especially the state was sent into a shock when the State Education, Information, Heritage and Culture Committee chairman Mazlan Bujang disclosed that a total of 177 secondary school students were tested positive for drugs-use through the National Anti-Drugs Association (AADK)’s urine test that was conducted statewide at 280 secondary schools. With massive anti-drugs campaign that was running in Malaysia since the 1990s, the numbers have seen a rapid decline ever since. However, to know that substance abuse among students are still going on over the mark of 100 is a concerning issue not only among parents but also the society as the
children are the nation’s human capital. “These students usually display symptoms that we can detect. Even if the numbers are not high or too worrying, we should nevertheless be aware and concerned. If possible, we want zero cases. As educators, that is our hope,” Mazlan told reporters after attending the Mind Transformation Programme: Involvement of Parents and the Community to Address Drug and Substance Abuse as well as Social Problems, at the Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat Complex. Previously in April 2020, Haji Azman Adnan, the Director of Johor Education Department in his speech on vape and drug abuse among school students in a seminar that was attended by 400 teachers, councillors and headmasters in Johor Bahru, Kulai and Pasir Gudang said, “As of 2019, AADK has tested 5,000 students for drugs and 148 students were found positive in the first stage. Based on that test, the education department
www.facebook.com/theiskandarian
@theISKANDARIAN
has carried out various interventions to ensure that our children are no longer involved with these sick trends”. Citing Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 on Shift 9 where the department starts partnering with parents, community, and private sectors at scale, Azman wishes for schools to make use of the supporting entities like Parents and Teachers Association (PIBG) actively on this particular issue apart from the department’s strategic partners made up of government bodies like the State Department of Health and NGOs like International Women’s Peace Group Malaysia (IGWP). In response to AADK’s disclosure of such high numbers of students involved, Johor Police Chief, Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the state’s police will start investigating and it will be geared more towards tracking down drug pushers to students. - by Norfy Shafeq TI
Monthly Drill with Cheah HT, General Manager of Holiday Inn Page 5
RM8.545 Million Allocated for Food Bank
A
total of 86,000 people have benefitted from the state government’s food bank programme under the Ihsan Johor economic stimulus package. RM8.545 million was allocated for the said programme which was carried out in three phases. According to State Unity, Trade and Consumer Affairs committee chairman Dr Chong Fat Full, the programme was initially carried out to provide food for those in the B40 category, especially recipients of e-kasih and aid from Welfare Department as well as asnaf categories (eligible zakat recipients). “However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme was expanded to reach out to more people who are in need of assistance including those who had lost their jobs and small-business owners who couldn’t operate during the MCO period, “he added. Dr Chong also said that to ensure the programme ran smoothly, the state government had turned district offices into collection and distribution centres for the food bank programme. TI
Land Tax Rebate in Johor till 2022
G
ood news await Johorians as Johor Menteri Besar, Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni Mohammad, has announced that the state will offer 15% land tax rebate for the year 2020, 10% rebate for the year 2021 and 5% for the year 2022. Hasni announced the matter in the closing speech of the Ihsan Johor Economic Stimulus Package 2020 negotiations at the Johor State Assembly (DUN) sitting. The Johor Land Administration is in the process of updating the payment system to ensure that this land tax rebate can be implemented properly and in an orderly manner. Please visit http://ptj.johor.gov. my for further details. - by Priya Manikam TI
www.linkedin.com/company/theiskandarian/
www.theiskandarian.com