THE government is seeking to ban the planting of ketum to prevent its widespread usage, said Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

It may also amend the law to categorise the plant as a dangerous drug or poison, he told reporters in Putrajaya today after chairing an action committee meeting with the National Anti-Drugs Agency.

“We have discussed the issue of ketum plantations at length and have concluded that it should be banned. The matter will be brought to the cabinet for approval,” Muhyiddin said.

Also present were Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad, and AADK director-general Zulkifli Abdullah.

Muhyiddin said the planting of ketum has already been banned in neighbouring Thailand, and that a ban would circumvent the rising trend of exporting ketum north of the border.

“If we do not propose to ban it now, its usage could become too widespread, which is too late. Even Thailand realises that it should be banned,” said Muhyiddin.

Ketum, also known as kratom, contains opioid properties and is commonly found in the northern peninsular states. It has been used as a traditional painkiller.

Of that figure 80.6% are Malays, followed by the Chinese (7.2%) and the Indians (7%). About 73.4% of total users are aged 19 to 39 years of age.

Sarawak recorded the lowest per capita drug users at 0.16% of the state population or 4,414 drug users.

Pahang recorded the highest with 16,150 users or 0.96% of the state population, followed by Kelantan (16,918 or 0.92%), Terengganu (10,576 or 0.89%) and Perlis (2,121 or 0.83%). – November 12, 2018.