Cabinet committee approves amendments to drug addicts law, says Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: The Special Cabinet Committee on Combating Drug Abuse has accepted the recommendations and proposed amendments to the Drug Addicts (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (photo)who chaired the meeting on Tuesday, June 11, said the amendments prioritized those seeking treatment and rehabilitation.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the meeting discussed at length several important issues, particularly the amendments to Article 8 of the law, which related to the voluntary treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts or drug addicts.

“This matter will be referred to the Cabinet meeting before being tabled in Parliament,” he said in a Facebook post.

According to Ahmad Zahid, the meeting took place following the Cabinet’s decision on April 30 to establish a special committee involving the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health to discuss the proposed amendments.

“We hope that the efforts of the two ministries in handling the issue of drug treatment and rehabilitation will produce the best results,” he added. – Bernama