KOTA BHARU, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- Ten personnel from the General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade have been dismissed from service from 2025 until yesterday for drug abuse and absence from duty.
GOF Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Ahmad Radzi Hussain said of the total, six were dismissed in 2025, involving five drug abuse cases under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and one case of absence from duty.
He said another four have been dismissed as of October this year, comprising two cases of drug abuse and two cases of absence from duty.
He said drug abuse among members of the force is a cause for concern and requires serious attention from all commanding officers and supervisors to ensure the problem does not undermine the force’s discipline and image.
“There will be no compromise on drug abuse among the Southeast Brigade personnel. Those involved will face action in accordance with the prevailing laws and regulations,” he told reporters after the rank conferment and handover of duties ceremony for the commanding officer of GOF Battalion 8 here today.
Ahmad Radzi said the brigade currently has 17 open investigation cases involving drug-related arrests among its personnel.
In a related development, he said a member of a battalion under the administration of the Southeast Brigade was arrested on Oct 13 while on duty in an operational area under Op Taring Wawasan on suspicion of drug abuse.
“The case is being investigated under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Investigations found that the person concerned is believed to have been involved in drug abuse for eight years, underscoring the importance of continuous monitoring of personnel’s conduct and welfare,” he said.
As such, he said he has directed battalion commanding officers to pay attention to their personnel’s welfare, discipline, conduct and problems, as well as identify behavioural changes that could lead to disciplinary or legal violations.
He also directed the Integrity and Standards Compliance Branch at both headquarters and battalion levels to strengthen monitoring and preventive measures through inspections, welfare-oriented approaches, counselling and follow-up action involving personnel at risk.
Ahmad Radzi said supervisors who failed to discharge their responsibilities could also face disciplinary action, including under Regulation 3C.
-- BERNAMA