My fellow Singaporeans

I am pleased to be here this morning to be with so many concerned individuals for a common goal – that is to get rid of drug abuse in our country.

Drug abuse destroys lives and families, and is a threat to society. Every life ruined by drugs is an unnecessary loss. There can be no let up in our efforts to fight drug abuse, and those who seek to spread its use for personal gain, especially as we believe that every Singaporean counts and every individual matters. The waste of lives destroyed by drugs and drug-related crime, and the tragedy inflicted on families and society by drug abuse, is especially regrettable as this is entirely preventable. Our effort to prevent drug abuse and our fight against those who are involved in its spread must continue relentlessly. Otherwise, it will consume our society.

The PAL programme by SANA is a further effort to be proactive in steering high-risk youths who have not yet been involved in drug abuse to stay away from drugs. This programme, like all other SANA programmes, deserves the fullest support of the schools, family service centres, religious and self-help groups, and society at large. With this programme and with your support, I am confident that we will have taken another important step towards our effort to arrive at a drug-free Singapore.

On this note, I am pleased to launch the PAL programme.

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