By: Fauzi Suhaimi
PAPAR, September 11, 2024 – Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Datuk Seri Dr. Shamsul Anuar bin Nasarah, emphasized that the rehabilitation officers of the National Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA) are highly capable of handling drug and substance abuse issues.
This is because, he stressed, all NADA officers undergo comprehensive and sufficient training before being assigned as rehabilitation officers.
“In this regard, I call upon everyone to have full confidence in the capability of NADA rehabilitation officers in their efforts to treat, prevent, and enforce laws, particularly related to the Drug Dependant (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983.
“Furthermore, NADA has also become a reference for both domestic and international drug-related agencies in the three core areas managed by NADA, especially in terms of treatment and rehabilitation, whether conducted in institutions at the Narcotic Addiction Rehabilitation Centers (PUSPEN) or in communities through the District NADA Offices and Community Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers,” he said.
He stated this during his speech at the Program Ramah Mesra with the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and the staff of PUSPEN Papar on Tuesday.
On the other hand, Datuk Seri Dr. Shamsul Anuar mentioned that the government, through NADA, will continue to intensify community-based treatment and rehabilitation efforts to ower the nation’s drug addiction rates.
He explained that community-based rehabilitation is not a new initiative, as over 60,000 NADA clients nationwide have undergone treatment and rehabilitation within the community.
“Clients who undergo community rehabilitation are monitored through 108 District NADA Offices and Community Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers.
“In addition to community rehabilitation, 8,000 clients are also undergoing treatment and rehabilitation at Narcotic Addiction Rehabilitation Centers (PUSPEN) across the country.
“These rehabilitation programmes will help reduce the drug addiction rate among the community by 2025,” he explained.
Also present were NADA Deputy Director-General (Operations), Tuan Khairul Anwar Bachok; State Assemblyman for Pantai Manis, YB Mohd Tamin @ Tamin Zainal; Director of PUSPEN Papar, Roswati binti Apin; and Papar District Police Chief, Superintendent Kamaruddin Ambo Sakka.
