JOHOR BARU – The Home Ministry is preparing a bill for a new law governing drug addiction with a rehabilitative approach instead of criminal punishment.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the ministry had already decided to move away from criminal punishment to a public health approach when dealing with drug addiction, and that this had the support of MPs on both sides of the political divide.
“If everything goes smoothly, the Misuse of Drugs and Substances (Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act will replace the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983.
“This law will increase access to treatment, but the most important feature is that it will focus on rehabilitation, not punishment,” Saifuddin told the Dewan Rakyat when winding up the debate on the royal address for his ministry today.
The bill is being prepared and will be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers first, added the senator.
His speech was well received by other lawmakers, with Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah (Langkawi-PN) and Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar-Muda) pointing out that this move could make history and save the lives of many drug users in the country.
“If I may put forth a recommendation, the results (of a rehabilitative approach) in Portugal during the early 2000s worked successfully and I hope the same approach can be brought here,” Syed Saddiq said.
Meanwhile, Gobind Singh Deo (Damansara-PH) praised the move but also cautioned the Home Minister that a shift in the law must take into account drug users already serving punishments under existing laws.
“When we draft new laws, we must look at the laws already being enforced because some people are currently serving their sentences.
“When the law comes in, I question whether those already serving sentences would receive medical treatment too,” Gobind said. – The Vibes, February 22, 2023
