Kuala Lampur, June 20 -- Malaysia's drug laws are often defended as necessary to protect society and deter repeat offending. But when examined closely, Section 39C of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 reveals a troubling truth: it does not curb drug use. Instead, it entrenches poverty, criminalises drug dependence, and traps vulnerable individuals in a revolving door of incarceration. A recent research report published in collaboration with the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) highlights how punitive drug policies can exacerbate social and economic vulnerabilities while failing to address the underlying drivers of drug use.

Section 39C allows courts to impose mandatory prison sentences of five to seven years on individuals repeated...