COMMENT | Colonial roots in law against ganja and ketum

COMMENT | I will not use the scientific name, or even colonial names, for plants which are native to our tropical Malaya. These names are strange, foreign and difficult to spell.

These two plants which are native to tropical Malaya are ganja and ketum (above). In fact, everyone in Malaysia knows that ganja and ketum grow naturally and abundantly behind Pak Usin’s shop in Batu Tujuh, Bendang Raja in Kuala Nerang.

In fact, there are areas in Malaysia where local villagers call ketum leaves biak leaves. This is because the leaves grow abundantly (senang membiak) on this tropical land.

Everyone knows what ganja is. Everyone also knows what ketum is. It’s impossible for someone in Malaysia to say they don’t know what these two plants are.

I am sure everyone who has passed puberty has...