THE use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Malaysian Drug Profiling System (MyDPS) is a promising move that could help the government strengthen its strategy against drug abuse, according to Ikatan Komuniti Selamat chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
In a statement on Tuesday, Lee welcomed the initiative by the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK), which is currently conducting its first national-level MyDPS study.
The six-month project, set to conclude by December, aims to assess the severity of the nation’s drug problem using AI-driven analytics.
“What is commendable is that the government has now begun integrating AI in achieving this objective,” he said.
“This is a new initiative that applies AI to help chart the future direction of drug prevention and rehabilitation in Malaysia. It will also serve to enhance the effectiveness of current programmes.”
Lee stressed that drug abuse remains a persistent and serious issue, despite decades of awareness campaigns, substantial government funding, and multiple intervention efforts.
“Drugs continue to be a social scourge with damaging effects on society,” he said.
“Despite all the efforts and millions spent, we have yet to find a comprehensive solution to eradicate drug abuse. The youth remain particularly vulnerable, and the problem is only growing more worrying.”
He added that drugs have been Malaysia’s “number one enemy” since the 1980s, and even now “no concrete resolution is in sight.”
Lee expressed hope that by leveraging AI, authorities will be better equipped to tackle drug-related challenges more efficiently and strategically.
In June, AADK Director-General Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said the MyDPS study began in May and would yield insights that are more accessible and timely compared to previous manual data collection efforts.
The AI-enhanced MyDPS will enable authorities to identify patterns in drug abuse and forecast future developments, helping to shape targeted prevention and rehabilitation programmes tailored to specific demographics and socio-economic contexts.
The MyDPS initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the National Geospatial Centre under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability. The goal is to collect and analyse data that can guide precise, location-specific interventions to combat drug use more effectively. - August 5, 2025
