What's happening to Miri???

Got this from The Star (08/05/07)

Kids ‘glued’ to drugs

By STEPHEN THEN

MIRI: Children as young as seven are getting hooked on drugs and glue-sniffing, and living in wet markets and rubbish dumps here, raising alarm bells among state politicians and community leaders.

Two street kids, aged seven and nine, were rescued on Sunday after they were found slumped among some paper boxes near a rubbish dump next to the high-rise Imperial Hotel and Shopping Complex right in the heart of the city.

Two street urchins, aged seven and nine, were found motionless under cardboard boxes in the heart of Miri City, apparently high from glue sniffing. Officials found cans of tyre glue next to the children when they investigated a call from the public on Sunday. The children, who were begging in the streets, have been sent to the Welfare Department. According to officials, many such homeless children can be found loitering in the city. — STEPHEN THEN / The Star

Assistant Minister for Infrastructure Development and Communications Lee Kim Shin was shocked to find the children stretched out motionless under a pile of discarded boxes, following a call from a concerned member of the public.

Near to them were cans of glue, which police identified as tyre glue.

The two children refused to disclose their names and where they were from. Policemen in a mobile patrol unit took them to the police station and yesterday handed them over to the state Welfare Department.

Rescued: Lee (left) was shocked to find two street kids slumped under some cardboard boxes near a shopping complex in Miri. Police found cans of glue next to them.

“The relevant authorities must deal with this issue as soon as possible. This problem of very young kids getting involved in drugs and glue-sniffing, and living on the streets, must be overcome.

“It is getting serious. I have directed the Welfare Department to help these kids and others like them. Save them from the streets and rehabilitate them fast,” Lee said.

The two rescued children are believed to be siblings.

A woman shopper identified one of them as a Year Three pupil in her school.

“This kid might have dropped out though,” she said.

There are other such youngsters loitering about the streets of Miri. They can be found near the old market area, along the riverfront shophouses and outside four-digit outlets – areas frequented by drug users.

Here, there are no shelter facilities for boys rescued from the streets. There is a rehabilitation centre for girls called Taman Puteri. The biggest boys’ home in the state is in Kuching.

Very disappointed when I read this news. Haih~