| Hakim Hayat |
THE first meeting of ASEAN Inter Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs that concluded recently stressed on the need to boost efforts in tackling problems of drug abuse through cohesive cooperation at the regional and international levels.
The report following the Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs meeting between parliamentary members in ASEAN highlighted that cooperation should not only be limited to enforcement agencies but it is a joint responsibility in the government and non-government sectors, especially in providing awareness and knowledge to the public on drug abuse.
The four-day meeting that took place in Singapore discussed and endorsed two main topics – the Resolution to Tackle a Drug Free ASEAN Community for the Future Generation and the Resolution on the terms of reference of the AIPA Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs.
Brunei Darussalam was represented by Legislative Council (LegCo) members Yang Berhormat Nik Hafimi binti Abdul Haadii and Yang Berhormat Ong Tiong Oh and Deputy Clerk to the LegCo Rose Aminah binti Haji Ismail.
The meeting concluded with the signing of the Meeting Report by all heads of delegation of all 10 AIPA member nations.
Among the recommendations in the meeting included the development and maintenance of shared cooperation in strengthening the work in combating cross-border crime and also inter-agency cooperation to respond in transnational organised crime that is becoming more complex and rampant in the region.
The meeting also stressed on the importance for legislators in ASEAN to have the regulations, resources, strategy and framework in place to combat the menace.