Jackie Chan, one of the world’s most popular Chinese movie stars, was named as Singapore’s celebrity anti-drug ambassador, a first in the country’s history of its anti-drug campaign.
Jackie was introduced as such by Singapore's Minister of Prime Minister's Office Masagos Zulkifi during the launch of a new anti-drug mobile application on Thursday. Masagos is also the Second Minister for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs.
According to Minister Masagos, the Chinese icon expressed his support for the campaign without hesitation and amid his busy schedule.
"We all have a part to play in the fight against drugs. Everyone has a responsibility to spread the anti-drug message," Zulfiki remarked, adding that he has high hopes that Jackie could inspire Singaporean youth to avoid the use of drugs.
The newly unveiled mobile game app named "Aversion" is aimed at teaching the players to avoid drug contact and be knowledgeable of its harmful effects. The Nanyang Polytechnic School of Interactive and Digital Media students developed the mobile game.
Meanwhile, Jackie has also been China's anti-drug envoy since 2009.
The movie star shared that it was his father who taught him to stay away from drugs as well as gambling and gangsterdom when he was young. He added that he wanted to be instrumental to share his father's wisdom with the new generation of the youth.
Jackie acknowledged that today's young people face many temptations, one of which is drugs. The youth's curiosity in trying something new sometimes entails dangerous consequences both to them and their family, he further noted.
Asked about his son Jaycee Fong's drug usage, he said that he was angered and ashamed by the news. However, the issue has all the more motivated him to support anti-drug campaigns.
Jackie also clarified that their relation has not changed, and even encouraged his son to be an anti-drug ambassador himself.
The legendary star said that fighting against the addictive substance is a concerted effort, stating that he and the "media, government, parents, schools" must work together and "say not to drugs."