Medical cannabis: Yasin will be celebrated, not charged in developed countries – Syed Saddiq

By Mohammad Arif Nizam

PETALING JAYA – Nasyid composer and singer, Yasin Sulaiman will not be imprisoned today if he lives in one of the 40 developed countries which legalised medical cannabis.

The Parliament Medical Cannabis Caucus Chief, Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman said that Yasin will be celebrated in those countries as he is sick and needs help, not to be jailed.

On the contrary, he, who is also the President of Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA), said that Yasin would not have to wait for his trial for growing 17 marijuana plants in his house.

Syed Saddiq said, unfortunately the singer’s fate is different in Malaysia. After he is jailed, he could be facing the death penalty over the offence of using cannabis for medical purposes as the country is still practising out-dated law.

“As a lawmaker, I have the responsibility to ensure that the country’s law is current. Unfortunately, on this issue, the law related to cannabis has not been renewed. It has been almost 70 years and we have not revised this law. We (the country) view this matter lightly.

“If Yasin is in one of the 40 over developed countries, he will not be in the lockup, waiting for months but he will be celebrated. What will be treated and assisted and jailed. However, in Malaysia, our law is outdated and old because we have not revised the law for almost 70 years,” he told the media, showing his moral support to Yasin who is currently trialled for growing and distributing marijuana at the Magistrate Court today.

Syed Saddiq, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) of Muar said that his plight to legalise medical cannabis is not for Yasin alone but many other people need the same defence.

“This is not about Yasin alone. Many other people will go through the similar thing without appropriate defence. They will be stuffed into the lockup, face criminal charges. What have they done wrong? They only took the cannabis for medical purposes.

“We always say that health authorities such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) is Malaysia’s reference but on this matter, when WHO has already recommended to remove cannabis from the list of dangerous drugs, we have not done so.

“Thus, I think that I need to give my moral support and as a lawmaker, I must always bring proposal to change this in the Parliament, that’s why, we managed to establish the bipartisan caucus which represents all parties,” he said.

Syed Saddiq also urged the government to recognise medical cannabis because many patients depend on that drug.

“They do not distribute cannabis for profit. Secondly, it is time for Malaysia to follow the trails of over 40 countries globally in recognising cannabis as an alternative medicine.

“The measure taken by other countries should be seen as an encouragement for the healthcare group in Malaysia to offer alternative medicine immediately. Furthermore, global health authority such as WHO has also recognised the usage of medical cannabis as an alternative to patients,” he said.

Syed Saddiq had also held a discussion with Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob over the matter.

“I emphasised giving the authority to the Attorney-General’s Chamber to give higher consideration in the usage of cannabis.

“The judges also need to be given more authority and leniency in evaluating medical cannabis cases.

“Moreover, capital punishment is an excessive punishment to the patients as their health condition requires them to seek alternative treatment such as cannabis and hemp,” he said. -MalaysiaGazette

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