PADANG BESAR: The Regent of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail (pic) has launched Suka, a brand of products made by the Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (Puspen).
He was greeted at the launch ceremony on Monday (May 29) by National Anti-Drug Agency director-general Sutekno Ahmad Belon and Bukit Chabang Puspen director Mohamad Zaki Farkhi Ahmad.
Sutekno said Suka, short for "sokongan untuk pemulihan anda" (support for your recovery) is used by the agency to market products made by its clients, Puspen trainees.
These include agriculture and food products as well as craft work, among others.
"We invite the community to also support the efforts of trainees to build a new life and be free from drugs,” he told reporters after the launch at Bukit Chabang Puspen.
He said so far more than 10 types of items have been produced by 30 Puspen nationwide, and the agency expects sales of RM500,000 this year.
"There will be physical as well as online sales, and the agency will also create a business website for the public to purchase the products," he said.
Meanwhile, Kelantan's Jeli Puspen director Aman Mustapha said trainees there are working on agricultural products.
They grow durian saplings as part of their rehabilitation treatment, he added.
"The venture was based on an idea by a client who is interested in agriculture, so we provided the guidance," he said.
He also said caring for the durian saplings helps teach clients about self-care so that they do not get fall back to using drugs or prohibited substances.
"The young plants need to be sown, fertilised and watered, and that is how our lives need to be taken care of too so as not to get entangled in things that are harmful such as drug abuse," he added.
Pahang's Gambang Puspen director Rosland Hussen said Suka products helped clients become more creative in using recycled materials to make products with commercial value.
"In Gambang Puspen, we produce pest repellent for agricultural use," he said. – Bernama
