PENGASIH Graduate Programme Fascinates Foreign NGO

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Several members of the International Federation of Non-Government Organizations (IFNGO) for the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse have expressed their interest to model the 'graduate' programme of the Malaysian Caring Association (Pengasih) in the implementation of its dadah rehabilitation programme. Pengasih Honourary Secretary Roslan Yahya said members of the organisation from Australia and Bangladesh admitted the approach of Pengasih was relevant in its application at rehabilitation centres in their respective countries. He said Pengasih, which was a neutral organisation set up to assist in the rehabilitation of addicts, had produced about 330 graduates since the programme began in 1999. Pengasih graduates are former addicts who have been declared free from the influence of dadah three or four years after undergoing the process of rehabilitation at the centre. "They were recalled after a few years to be evaluated by a panel of evaluators on whether they were still involved in dadah or not. The award of graduate would be given should they be completely free from dadah abuse," he told Bernama after receiving a visit from four IFNGO representatives at Pengasih House, here Friday. -- BERNAMA