KUALA LUMPUR: More than 248,000 former residents at Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centres (Puspen) have received job offers since 2020, following efforts to help them reintegrate into society, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
The Home Ministry said the National Anti-Drug Agency also conducts pre-placement programmes in efforts to prepare residents for the job market.
"We also encourage the employment of former addicts through tax rebate incentives which we have agreed to continue until the year of assessment 2030," it said in a written reply on Thursday (Jan 22).
The ministry said there are also follow up programmes for former Puspen residents to assist them in finding jobs post-treatment. This includes continuous counselling and job-matching together with companies from the private sector, government-linked companies and government agencies.
It said that the National Anti-Drug Agency provides trainings alongside Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes to aid these efforts. There are 22 courses carried out through cooperation with Giatmara and community colleges, among others.
According to the ministry, 3,143 clients successfully obtained certification between 2020 to 2025, with as many as 1,040 clients targeted to join the programme this year.
"Our initiatives aim to ensure former Puspen clients remain independent, productive and once again accepted by society," it said.
The ministry was responding to a question by Dr Abd Ghani Ahmad of Perikatan Nasional, who asked about measures taken to aid former Puspen inmates in securing jobs and being accepted in society.
