SHAH ALAM, June 26 (AFP) - Despite some of the world's toughest laws against trafficking, Malaysia Monday declared drug abuse its number one enemy and urged parents, teachers and bosses to unite in fighting the scourge.

"Drug abuse is the number one enemy of the country. We want to make Malaysia a drug-free country. Drug abuse will destroy the nation," said Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"And as long as drugs are available, the drug threat will remain," he told reporters after launching an anti-drugs day, in conjunction with the United Nations' International Day against drug abuse.

Abdullah said the war against drug abuse must go on because many addicts who complete rehabilitation programs return to their old habits.

"We cannot relax in our fight against drug abuse. I hope all parties will cooperate with the government to eradicate this threat," he said.

Abdullah, who is also home minister, said there must be continued efforts to prevent drug abuse and also to find ways to keep former addicts who have been treated from going back to it.

Lee Lam Thye, vice-president of Pemadam, a government funded anti-drug body, said Malaysia faced an uphill task in battling drug abuse as the number of young addicts was rising.

"We must renew out commitment to protect our citizens from the scourge of drug abuse and trafficking," he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times newpaper Monday.

The death sentence is mandatory for anyone caught with 15 grams (half an ounce) or more of heroin or morphine.

Data released by the National Narcotics Agency shows that Malaysia had 35,359 known addicts last year, of whom 17,444 were repeat cases. Some 26,554 are aged between 19 and 39.

Abdullah admitted that the government faced a problem of capacity. "We are unable to treat all the addicts. It takes time to treat those who are in the centres," he lamented.

The narcotics agency said at the end of March 2000, 8,480 addicts were undergoing treatment at 27 drug rehabilitation centres nationwide.

Abdullah urged families and employers not to reject treated former addicts.

"If they are treated as outcasts, they will join their former friends and return to their old habits," he said.

He said action to stamp out the supply of drugs must be intensified.

"We have to deny the product in the market. We cannot be lax in our duty," he said, when asked whether drugs could be obtained easily on the streets.

Abdullah expressed concern that chemically-made drugs -- amphetamine-type stimulants -- were becoming increasingly popular. Last year there were 774 arrests for "designer drugs" compared to 264 the previous year.

Abdullah also expressed fears that injecting heroin and sharing needles exposes addicts to HIV infection.

The narcotics agency said in the first three monthes of the year, 667 addicts out of the 8,480 undergoing rehabilitation were HIV victims.

A customs official told AFP that heroin arrived in Malaysia from the heroin-producing areas of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos -- popularly called the Golden Triangle.

"Our close proximity to the Golden Triangle and entry of illegals into the country makes enforcement activities difficult," he said.

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