Pemadam state chief chides Lee for no-show criticism

KUCHING: Malaysian Drug P r e v ent ion A s s o c i a t i o n (Pemadam) Sarawak chairman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has chided Communications Assistant Minister Datuk Dr Lee Kim Shin for criticising Pemadam, National Anti- Drug Agency (AADK) and the police for not showing up at the opening ceremony of a new drug rehabilitation centre in Miri recently.

According to him, the association was not invited to the opening ceremony in the first place.

“I wish to inform that the state Pemadam and its Miri branch were never informed nor invited to this new rehabilitation centre ceremony and I am unaware whether the police or AADK were invited either,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Lee last Saturday expressed his disappointment at the no-show by police, AADK and Pemadam at the opening of Sarawak Kenosis Home – a drug rehabilitation centre for men – at Tanjong Lobang in Miri.

Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Youth Development ( Urban Areas), said Lee should have checked on the invite with the organiser or with him in his capacity as assistant minister at the Ministry of Social Development on Pemadam and AADK before making the statement which was uncalled for.

“Furthermore, Datuk Lee should also check on the procedure and administrative arrangement for the setting up of a private drug rehabilitation centre.

“I was informed that anybody or organisation that wishes to set up a private drug rehabilitation centre must seek clearance and endorsement from the Ministry of Home Affairs and AADK and from what I was informed, no such clearanceorrequesthasbeensought by this private drug rehabilitation centre,” he remarked.

He was happy to see some private organisation willing to set up this centre, but said it should be done “in accordance with the law of the land.”