TAWAU: Sabah’s second Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (Puspen) is set to be built in Balung, here, with a RM123 million allocation approved by the Home Affairs Ministry (KDN).
State Women, Health and Community Wellbeing Assistant Minister Datuk Rina Jainal said the project site has already been acquired and is currently in the final stages of the process, which include verifying the land area, technical specifications and other details.
“The Puspen in Balung is expected to be completed within five years and will become the second rehabilitation facility in Sabah, alongside Puspen Papar,” she said after presenting aid to 12 heads of households (KIRs), involving 36 victims of the Kampung Islamiah fire, at the Temporary Evacuation Centre (PPS) in OT Mohd Jantan Multipurpose Hall, here.
She said Sabah currently has only one operational Puspen located in Papar and the construction of the second Puspen in Balung is seen as an urgent necessity to meet the demand for drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation services in the State.
Rina said she was informed the project had actually been planned more than 10 years ago, and its need is now highly critical and essential to strengthen drug addiction rehabilitation efforts in Sabah.
She expressed confidence that the construction of the new Puspen is expected to boost the capacity for drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation in the State.
Meanwhile, at the event, each affected family received a RM1,000 contribution from the Sabah Chief Minister through the Sabah Welfare Foundation, as well as a personal contribution of RM500 from Rina herself.
In addition, essential aid, including food supplies and cooking utensils, was provided by the Sabah General Welfare Services Department (JPKAS) to help alleviate the burden on the affected victims.
They were also provided with counselling services by JPKAS to help them cope with the trauma and emotional stress caused by the incident, which forms part of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for disasters, alongside the distribution of other aid.
Rina said the affected households would also be given priority to receive a Rumah Mesra SMJ under her quota for families who qualify based on eligibility criteria and land site suitability.
She added that this step is part of the Government’s long-term efforts to help citizens rebuild their lives after losing their homes due to disasters and other unfortunate events.
