KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 — The government will introduce several schemes to bring more private sector investment into the Narcotics Treatment Centre (Puspen).
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin believes that the private sector can use the 28 Puspen centres nationwide to create cottage industry projects.
“We have 28 Puspen nationwide with more than 800 hectares of land and we feel those areas can be used and give the private sector a chance to work together with the National Anti-Drug Action Council to help implement cottage industry projects.
"Those in the centres can be hired as workers and be paid salaries according to the market rates and the profits from the sales can be shared with the private sector that is managing it,” he told reporters after chairing a National Anti-Drug Action Council meeting in Parliament.
The deputy prime minister said the government will be providing incentives for the private sector.
“I have instructed for a scheme to be prepared, including ways to attract the private sector, in a suitable location and have a few incentives that can be given to them.
“We hope with the involvement of the private sector, not only will it provide jobs but also help under the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). More details will be announced later,”
The government will be introducing case managers to help curb drug abuse in the community.
“We have also agreed to create posts of case managers to supervise cases in the community. We will appoint officers who are experts in this field to manage the cases that were previously managed by the police. I believe the drug agency needs the manpower. We will do this in stages.
“We can also ask NGOs to help in the fight against drug misuse,” he said.
The government also agreed to provide medical experts and psychiatrists to Puspen centres.
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