NA Mohd Salleh
Dr. Nur Afiqah's research examines institutional-related structures associated with engagement in healthcare, including HIV and Hepatitis C care for people who use drugs (PWUD). This epidemiological work is informed by sociological perspectives which frame the research questions within a wider social, economic and policy environment. Additionally, she has received training in Implementation Science at Yale University.
Being an active member of the Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERiA), her current research activities have incorporated a community-based participiatory research (CBPR) component. Using this approach, she engages with local communities of PWUD and NGOs that serve these populations, whose collective views in the design and implementation of health programs are key in developing effective interventions. Additionally, she is actively involved in knowledge-transfer activities, promoting the use of evidence-based practices in real-life settings. She is also interested in drug policies, especially the impact of existing policies on youths and families.
She currently serves as the Vice President at the Malaysian AIDS Council.
Session
Background: Malaysia's drug policies are primarily governed by the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952 and the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act (DDRA) 1983. The DDRA has recently been amended, aiming to enhance treatment provisions for drug dependence; however, the punitive measures under the DDA remain unchanged. The DDA continues to impose severe penalties for drug possession, disproportionately impacting People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) and exacerbating systemic inequities within the criminal justice system.
Objectives: This analysis aims to assess drug-related arrests under the DDA 1952 from 2019 to 2023 to highlight enforcement patterns and the need for reform in pursuit of a more equitable drug policy.
Methods: We analysed data from governmental agencies on arrests under key sections of the DDA 1952 between 2019 and 2023.
Results: Arrests for self-administration of drug use (Section 15(1)(A)) remain the highest, increasing from 69,122 in 2022 to 85,004 in 2023, while major possession (Section 39A(2)) arrests declined significantly from 3,986 in 2019 to 1,535 in 2023. Minor possession arrests under Section 39A(1) remain high, reflecting persistent punitive enforcement against PWUD. In contrast, trafficking arrests (Section 39B) have remained stable, showing that current enforcement disproportionately penalises drug users rather than traffickers, exacerbating inequalities in drug policy.
Implications: Malaysia’s drug policies disproportionately penalise PWUD. These findings highlight the urgent need to reform the DDA 1952 by re-evaluating drug laws based on scientific evidence, public health outcomes and social impact.