By: Fauzi Suhaimi dan Mohamad Rashdan Zakaria

BENTA, November 29, 2023 – Director General of the National Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA), Tuan Sutekno Ahmad Belon, emphasized that the Narcotic Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (PUSPEN) under NADA’s supervision is not a place to punish drug addicts, but an institution of lifelong recovery.

Tuan Sutekno said the negative perception of PUSPEN needs to be rid of immediately so the treatment and recovery process acquired by the clients can be adapted and applied after they complete the institutional-based treatment and rehabilitation programme (RPDI).

“Our fellow clients should see this as a sustenance and blessing from Allah to His servants- as this is an opportunity not given to everyone.

“I hope that the clients can be grateful for this blessing and do not look at this godsend chance as a punishment.

“If it continues to be deemed as a punishment, then the goal to ensure everyone here learns through the nine components in the NADA i-Pulih Model will not be achieved,” he said.

He said this at the Director General of NADA’s Getting-to-Know Session with the clients in conjunction with the Work Visit at PUSPEN Benta and PUSPEN Raub, here on Wednesday.

For the record, PUSPEN Raub is the last PUSPEN in the NADA Director General’s Work Visit series, thus becoming the 30th PUSPEN nationwide.

Tuan Sutekno also went on to say that all of the knowledge explored in PUSPEN can be used to start a new life after returning to family and society.

“Within PUSPEN, NADA reveals various knowledge including fardu ain, skills training, community integration and many more.

“Once you leave, and you have the ability to sew, produce handicrafts or whatever, then you can use this knowledge for a better life,” he said.