Will new drug law reduce prison congestion?

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Proposed Amendments to Drug Laws Aim to Reduce Prison Congestion

The Malaysian Home Ministry is in the process of amending the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 to establish the Drug and Substance Abuse Act. This legislative change is intended to redirect individuals identified as drug addicts from correctional facilities to rehabilitation centres managed by the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK). The primary stated objective behind this proposed shift is to alleviate overcrowding within the nation's prisons.
Shift to Rehabilitation Centres

Under the proposed amendments, drug addicts will be placed in AADK rehabilitation centres rather than serving time in prisons. This initiative is a direct response to concerns about the current state of prison congestion, which includes a significant number of individuals incarcerated for drug-related offences. The ministry is actively working on the precise details of this new legislation and plans to present it in Parliament soon.
Context of Drug Abuse Cases in Sarawak

The urgency for such legislative changes is underscored by statistics from regions like Sarawak. In the first quarter of 2020 alone, Sarawak recorded 3,998 cases involving drug abuse and individuals identified as drug addicts. Within Sarawak, the Kuching division emerged as the area with the highest number of arrests, totalling 1,499 individuals apprehended during that period.
National Arrest Trends

Broader national figures also highlight the scale of drug-related arrests. In 2018, a total of 4,762 people were arrested for drug abuse. This number saw an increase in 2019, with 6,774 addicts being apprehended by authorities across the country. These figures provide a backdrop to the government's efforts to reform the approach to drug addiction and its management within the justice system.

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Will new drug law reduce prison congestion?

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