By: Media and Corporate Communication Unit

ALOR GAJAH, March 28, 2024 – The National Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA) will never compromise with any Private Drug Rehabilitation Centers (PPDP) that violate the minimum standards, especially regarding elements of torture, abuse, and bullying during the treatment and rehabilitation process.

Its Director-General, Mr. Sutekno Ahmad Belon, said these elements clearly violate the minimum standards set, even if they use their own treatment and rehabilitation methods.

“PPDPs are allowed to use their own treatment and rehabilitation methods in their recovery syllabus, but that does not mean the operators can violate the regulations set under the Drug Dependence (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983.

“In general, NADA will not protect any PPDP registered under this Act, and if elements of bullying, torture, or abuse exist, it means the PPDP is not for rehabilitation because it does not meet the criteria,” he said after attending the NADA Jamai’e Iftar Programme at the Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Center (PUSPEN) in Tampin, Pulau Sebang, here, on Wednesday.

Mr. Sutekno said this in response to the abuse issue involving residents at the Eagle Land 1 PPDP centre in Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan, which went viral on social media and is now under police investigation.

He clarified that while NADA sets minimum standards that over 60 PPDP entrepreneurs nationwide must adhere to, it only involves aspects of facilities, amenities, accommodation, and client welfare.

We don’t standardise the recovery process because there are different ways to get there, and it wouldn’t be fair if we did. That way, people would argue that the government is trying to get involved, while these entrepreneurs have their own strategies.

“We will, however, ask them to remove the regimen from the syllabus if it is excessively harsh or abusive. If, on the other hand, the manner of punishment is a little bit harsh but the customers are willing and do not view it as abuse, then we have no issues.,” he said.

NADA will take appropriate action, including cancelling the registration of the PPDP, if there are violations or entrepreneurs are unable to comply with the minimum standards set after warnings based on inspections, monitoring, and audits conducted by NADA at the state and headquarters levels.

Regarding the issue at PPDP Eagle Land 1, Sutekno said NADA would issue a warning letter to the PPDP soon following violations of minimum standards for operating a PPDP.

“NADA provides 14 days as an opportunity for the management and restructuring of the rehabilitation centre to comply with minimum operating standards to avoid facing the closure of the centre.

“This comes after an investigation revealed that the facility did not adhere to the PPDP’s minimal requirements, particularly concerning space for activities, user capacity, and accommodations,” he said.

NADA also, he said, offers all residents of the centre the opportunity to receive treatment and rehabilitation voluntarily either through the Institutional Treatment and Rehabilitation Programme at PUSPEN or the Community Treatment and Rehabilitation Program at NADA district offices involved.