Focus on reduction, not rehab expansion
Published on: Wednesday, July 03, 2019
By: Jeremy S Zabala
PAPAR: The expansion or upgrade should not be the focus as much as reduction of the tenants or clients in Cure and Care Rehabilitation Centres (CCRCs), said Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Frankie Poon.
Poon said although the numbers of the clients in the centre have been increasing based on the current statistics, implementing an expansion project would be a waste of money if the root of the problems is not tackled.
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He said this would require necessary studies to be conducted to better understand the main cause of such growth not only to avoid unnecessary money spending but also to end the drug menace from its very core.
“Deputy Home Minister Datuk Azis Jamman had announced last year about building another facility in Kalabakan, Tawau.
“We have yet to work on that and we will see how we can facilitate and get the necessary funds. But the problem is that we really need to analyse the real cause on the increase of numbers of the clients in the CCRC,” he told Daily Express during Hari Raya Celebration with the CCRC Trainees, Monday.
The Tanjong Papat Assemblyman said this matter is serious not only due to the “overflowing” tenants in the centre but also as this could act as a “plague” that could affect if not the State, the whole nation.
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He also said that comprehensive review or studies should be carried out by experts to ensure that relapse issues of former tenants or clients should be overcome that could also contribute in controlling the increase of client numbers.
Although with barely catering for the numbers of trainees, he also commended Papar CCRC Director Abdul Hamediee Ibrahim for his efforts in “reorganizing” the center which has showed a drastic transformation.
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“The center seems to be in an orderly manner. I am pleased and hope that the director will work closely with the ministry. We also hope to be able to assist him, one way or another,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hamediee said since his service for almost a year as the director, additional programmes have been included in the list which to ensure that the trainees will be equipped with various skills and knowledge which could aid them in their road to redemption.
He said the additions includes vocational programs such as reflexology skills, noodles making and air-conditioning maintenance skills.
“The establishment of the reflexology classes this year is aimed at those clients who have no educational background so we improvise by equipping them with body and massaging skills which they could use to generate income when they go out.
“For a start, we would carry out this activities of giving massage especially during family visit day or event at the nearby Tamu when we have the chance,” he added.
With the current 448 tenants for both CCRC and the Clinic Cure & Care, Hamediee said such numbers require a huge amount of food and this is slowly overcome with the noodles production factory established within the centre.
He said the tenants would consume at least 54kg of food daily which requires costs of purchasing foods such as noodles from outside the center and this vocational training would not only provide them with food preparation skills but also the food required by all the tenants.
“If we think about it, why must we buy from outside when instead they could process on their own? This training will be carried out continuously and the current productions are also being sold during family day twice a week,” he added.
He also said collaboration with the Kinarut National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) where training for air conditioning maintenance are being carried out.
Hamediee said there are several clients in the center that have the skills and knowledge as well as experience with such work and it should be widen among other tenants with the help of teachers from IKBN.
Aside from vocational training, he also said two new “faces” of the CCRC includes Clinic Cure and Care that comprise of classes and doctor locum.
The classes are being taught by those who have teaching and education credentials but are unable to secure jobs as a teacher are being given chances to educate the tenants especially for SPM Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) level.
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