Pastor Richard Lee, a former addict, who now heads the Kenosis Home Drug Rehabilitation Centre, was quoted as saying drug traffickers and pushers are the ones who deserve no sympathy.
Drug addicts on the other hand need attention and care. “I believe instilling a fear of God in them will help,” he was quoted as saying.
He said this in disagreeing with PAS’ Pasir Puteh MP Nik Mazian Nik Mohamad for asserting in Parliament on March 16 that drug addicts were scared of pain and should therefore be subjected to whipping.
“He is simply shooting his mouth without thinking. Caning can never bring any positive result. It is kindness and genuine concern which will help,” Lee, 68, said.
He claimed that over the past 15 years he had helped 120 hard-core addicts at the centre in Petaling Jaya.
Businessman Michael Tan, also a former addict, agreed that severe punishment like caning should be avoided
“I feel for the drug addicts and know exactly what they are feeling and what should be done next. Caning is never a solution,” he was quoted as saying.
He said based on his experience in helping addicts, it is love, care and concern that succeed in supporting and turning them into a new leaf.
MCA religious harmony bureau deputy chairman Ng Chok Sin described Nik Mazian’s assertion that a fearsome punishment like caning would deter addicts as being ridiculous.
He said Nik Mazian should be aware that religious counselling together with emotional support from family, friends and guidance officers could contribute more effectively towards curing addicts of their affliction.
“The ugly truth is that we do not live in a perfect world and these laws and punishments have not translated into removing all forms of criminal offences and addictions,” he said.
He pointed out that the National Anti-Drugs Agency as well as certain NGOs were already running centres to help drug addicts.
“Prevention is better than cure. PAS should address the reasons why people turn to drugs rather than simply spewing ‘rotan this and that’,” he said.