KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government will set up a special Cure and Care Rehabilitation Centre (CCRC) catering to only addicts among women in the state soon.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman said the government will also increase the number of CCRC in Sabah to tackle drug addiction problem and congestion at the present rehabilitation centre in the state.
“The move to set up more CCRC is necessary to accommodate the growing number of residents at the centre subsequently reducing the number of addicts out there.
“For instance, a CCRC in Kimanis, which could only accommodate 250 people, has exceeded its capacity and is currently providing treatment to some 400 drug addicts.
“We also need to set up a special CCRC only for women because we want to give them privacy and avoid from mixing them with male drug addicts,” he told reporters last night.
The new CCRC, he said, would be developed in the east and west coast of Sabah to help the state National Anti-Drug Agency (Nada) in its operation.
“Apart from helping the agency to operate and identify more addicts, the setting up of the centre in the east and west coast of the state will also enable the addicts to frequently meet their families went undergoing treatment at the CCRC,” he said.
Earlier, Azis led a special integrated operation dubbed as “Op Khas Adu” aimed at rounding up addicts in the capital of the state.
The agency enforcement and security director, who is also Special Tactical Response Investigation Key Enforcers (STRIKE) commander, Zainuddin Abdullah, Sabah Nada director Bakri Bibi and Kota Kinabalu Nada enforcement chief Lawrence Galleh were present.
A total of 75 suspected drug addicts including those as young as 15 years old were arrested from several locations in Sepanggar, Kampung Rampayan, Tebobon and Gudon.
Azis said more similar operation will be conducted soon to curb drug addiction problem in the state.