Amendments to Drug Dependants Act to be tabled this Parliament meeting, says Home Minister

KUALA LUMPUR: The amendments to the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 are expected to be tabled during the current Parliament meeting.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the amendments have been approved by the Cabinet and cleared by the Attorney General.

"We have registered it on the Parliament schedule.

"We are waiting for our turn and we hope we can get the opportunity to table the amendments during this Parliamentary meeting," he told reporters after launching the National Science Symposium on Drug Addiction on Wednesday (June 26).

Among the main amendments to the law is to recognise those with drug addictions as patients instead of addicts, he said.

"We will no longer criminalise addicts.

"National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) rehabilitation officers will also be able to evaluate and assess potential drug rehabilitation cases.

"In the past, such cases have to be referred to medical officers but with the amendments, AADK officers will be able to evaluate and approve cases for rehabilitation.

"It will expedite the rehabilitation intake process without compromising the assessment and evaluation," he said.

Saifuddin said AADK officers have the necessary expertise to conduct such evaluations and assessments.

"The amendments to the law will be a game changer as it will encourage more addicts to come willingly to AADK for drug rehabilitation.

"We hope its impact will lead to more addicts coming forward voluntarily (for rehab).

"Those who come forward willingly will end up in rehab, instead of prosecution and subsequently prison. In the long run, it can also solve the prison overcrowding problem," he said.

The amendments to the bill contained 29 clauses that have to be debated when it is tabled in Parliament, Saifuddin said.