KAJANG: Amendments to the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 will enable stricter enforcement against private rehabilitation centres found committing offences, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the recent amendments have empowered authorities to implement certain control measures, including regulatory oversight of privately-run facilities.
“With the amendments in place, we now have the authority to introduce necessary controls, even on private rehab centres.
"If violations occur, action can certainly be taken,” he told reporters after officiating the closing ceremony of the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) i-DEEN programme on Tuesday (Aug 5).
He was commenting on recent media reports highlighting the plight of former drug addicts who claimed to have been abused at an unregistered private rehab centre in Selangor.
He confirmed that action had already been taken against one such centre in Negri Sembilan following a client’s death.
"In the past, we were not able to take legal action, but with these amendments, enforcement is now possible. This is one of the key benefits of the revised Act,” he added.
