Drugs-free certificates needed

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The new Yogyakarta Police Chief Brig. Gen. Saleh Saaf said Tuesday his office is planning to require drugs- free certificates for those applying for driving license and police clearance.

The measure is taken to reduce the use of drugs, he said in front of executives of Muhammadiyah Muslim organization.

Expressing great concerns over the increasing use of drugs, he had been determined to put drugs combat as his first priority in carrying his job in the province.

"I therefore share the opinion that drug abusers and traffickers should be given the highest sentence to make them learn a lesson," said Saaf.

His office would discuss the implementation of the requirement of drug-free certificates with local authorities, high schools and universities, he said.

Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, who was also present at the meeting, said that over 50 percent of those jailed in the provincial prison LP Wirogunan were involved in drugs.

"What is more concerning was that most of them were students," the governor said. (swa)