1 PART I PRELIMINARY-1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 .

2 PART I PRELIMINARY-2. Interpretation.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:-

"After-care Centre" [Deleted by Act A1018] ;

  "Board of Visitors"  means the Board of Visitors appointed by the Minister under section 11;

"Centre" [Deleted by Act A1018] ;

"dangerous drug" means any drug or substance which is for the time being comprised in the First Schedule of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 [Act 234];

"Day Centre" [Deleted by Act A1018] ;

  "Director General"  means the Director General appointed under subsection (2);

  "drug dependant"  means a person who through the use of any dangerous drug undergoes a psychic and sometimes physical state which is characterised by behavioural and other responses including the compulsion to take the drug on a continuous or periodic bas

3 PART II TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG DEPENDANTS UNDER COURT ORDER-3. Detention of suspected drug dependant for tests.

(1) An officer may take into custody any person whom he reasonably suspects to be a drug dependant.

(2) A person taken into custody under subsection (1) may be detained for a period not exceeding twenty-four hours at any appropriate place for the purpose of undergoing tests.

4 PART II TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG DEPENDANTS UNDER COURT ORDER-4. Production before Magistrate where tests cannot be completed within twenty-four hours.

(1) If the tests cannot be held or completed or the results of such tests cannot be obtained within twenty-four hours from the time a person is taken into custody under subsection 3(1)—

(a) the person may be released on bail, with or without surety, by an officer to attend at the time and place mentioned in the bond; or

(b) the person may be produced by an officer before a Magistrate, and the Magistrate shall, if the officer reports to the Magistrate that it is necessary to detain him for the purpose of undergoing tests, order him to be so detained for such period not exceeding fourteen days to undergo tests or the Magistrate may release him on bail, with or without surety, to attend at such time and place as may be mentioned in the bond for the purpose of undergoing such tests, or where such person has already undergone tests but the result of such tests has not yet been obtained, the Magistrate may releas


5 PART II TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG DEPENDANTS UNDER COURT ORDER-5. Obligation of suspected drug dependant to undergo tests procedure.

(1) For the purpose of tests under section 3 or 4, the person shall submit himself to all such acts or procedures as he may be required or directed to undergo by an officer, or by a government medical officer, or by a registered medical practitioner, or by any person working under the supervision of such officer, government medical officer or registered medical practitioner, as the case may be.

(2) Where any person fails to comply with any requirement or direction under subsection (1), he shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to be punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months or with fine, or with both.




6 PART II TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG DEPENDANTS UNDER COURT ORDER-6. Magistrate's order which may be made on a drug dependant.

(1) Where a person who has undergone the tests referred to in section 3 or 4 and, in consequence of such tests, is certified by a government medical officer or a registered medical practitioner to be a drug dependant, the officer shall produce him, or cause him to appear before a Magistrate, and the Magistrate shall upon the recommendation of a Rehabilitation Officer and after giving such person an opportunity to make representations—

(a) order such person to undergo treatment and rehabilitation at a Rehabilitation Centre specified in the order for a period of two years and thereafter to undergo supervision by an officer at the place specified in the order for a period of two years; or

(b) order such person to undergo supervision by an officer at the place specified in the order for a period of not less than two and not more than three years.

(2) An order of supervision imposed


7 PART II TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG DEPENDANTS UNDER COURT ORDER-7. [Deleted by Act A1018:s.5]

[Deleted by Act A1018]




8 PART III TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG DEPENDANTS WHO VOLUNTEER FOR SAME-8. Procedure for treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependant who volunteers for same

(1) Any person who is a drug dependant may apply to a Rehabilitation Officer to be provided with treatment and rehabilitation in respect of his drug dependency.

(2) Where a person makes an application under subsection (1), the Rehabilitation Officer shall as soon as possible make arrangements for the applicant to undergo tests.

(3) Where in consequence of the tests under subsection (2), such person is certified by a government medical officer or a registered medical practitioner to be a drug dependant, the Rehabilitation Officer shall decide whether such person should-

(a) undergo treatment and rehabilitation at a Rehabilitation Centre for a period of two years and thereafter undergo supervision by an officer for a period of two years; or

[Subs. by Act A1018]

and shall inform the applicant of his decision.

(4) [Deleted by Act A1018]

(5) [D


9 PART III TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG DEPENDANTS WHO VOLUNTEER FOR SAME-9. Procedure for treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependant who is a minor and for whom assistance is sought.

(1) Any parent or guardian of a minor whom the parent or guardian suspects or has reason to believe to be a drug dependant may apply to a Rehabilitation Officer for the minor to be treated and rehabilitated and produce such minor before such officer.

(2) Where a minor is produced before a Rehabilitation Officer under subsection (1), section 8 shall apply to him in the same manner as they apply to a person who applies for treatment and rehabilitation under that section.

[Am. by Act A1018]




10 PART IV CENTRES FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION-10. Rehabilitation Centres

The Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, establish for the residence, treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependants ordered or admitted to reside therein under this Act.

[Subs. by Act A1018]




11 PART IV CENTRES FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION-11. Board of Visitors.

There shall be appointed by the Minister in respect of each Rehabilitation Centre a Board or Visitors, and such Board of Visitors:-

(a) shall exercise all powers, discharge all such duties and perform all such functions as may be provided in this Act or as may be prescribed in any rules;

(b) shall advise and make recommendations to the Director General on all matters which the Director General may refer to it and on other matters pertaining to their duties and functions on which it may deem necessary or expedient to advise and make recommendations.




12 PART IV CENTRES FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION-12. Shortening period of residence at Rehabilitation Centre

(1) The Director General may shorten the period of residence at any Rehabilitation Centre in respect of any person for reasons which appear to him to be sufficient if such person has already completed a period of twelve months of residence in such Centre.

(2) The Director General may, with the consent in writing of the Minister, discharge from a Rehabilitation Centre a person who has not yet completed a period of twelve months of residence at the Centre for special reasons pertaining to the welfare of such person.

[Subs by Act A1018]




13 PART IV CENTRES FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION-13. [Deleted by Act A1018].

[Deleted by Act A1018] .




14 PART IV CENTRES FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION-14. [Deleted by Act A1018].

[Deleted by Act A1018] .




15 PART IV CENTRES FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION-15. [Deleted by Act A1018].

[Deleted by Act A1018] .




16 PART IV CENTRES FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION-16. Private centres for treatment and rehabilitation and for after-care.

(1) The Minister may on the application of any individual person or of any organization, body or group of persons, grant approval for the establishment and operation of a private centre for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependants or for the after-care of persons who have been drug dependants, upon such terms and conditions as the Minister may specify.

(2) The terms and conditions of any approval granted under subsection (1) may at any time be varied by the Minister and he may, without giving any notice or assigning any reason, revoke any approval granted under subsection (1), and any revocation so made may contain all such directions of an incidental or a consequential nature which the Minister may deem necessary, expedient or desirable.

(3) Notification of every approval of a centre under this section and every revocation of such approval, shall be published in the Gazette .

(4) Any person who establishes or


17 PART IV CENTRES FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION-17. Transfer between Centres.

Any person who is resident at a Rehabilitation Centre may at any time be directed by the Director General to be transferred to reside at a different Rehabilitation Centre and where it is so directed the person shall be accordingly removed to such other Rehabilitation Centre.




18 PART V GENERAL-18. Compulsory notification of drug dependants.

(1) It shall be the duty of a registered medical practitioner, including a government medical officer, to notify the Director General of any person who is treated by him for drug dependency in accordance with rules made under this Act.

(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding two thousand ringgit.

[Am. by Act A1018]




19 PART V GENERAL-19. Lawful custody.

(1) A person shall be in lawful custody:-

(a) where he is taken into custody by an officer under this Act;

(b) while he is resident at a Rehabilitation Centre under this Act;

[Am. by Act A1018]

(c) while he is being taken from or to any place, or while he is engaged in any activity under this Act outside a Rehabilitation Centre, during the period that he is under an order made under this Act to reside at a Rehabilitation Centre.

[Am. by Act A1018]

(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to a person who is admitted to a Rehabilitation Centre under section 8 or 9.

(3) Any person who escapes from lawful custody as referred to in subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to whipping not exceeding three strokes, or t


20 PART V GENERAL-20. Offences by residents of Rehabilitation Centre and After-care Centres, and by supervises.

(1) Where any person:-

(a) contravenes any term or condition lawfully imposed under this Act in relation to residence, treatment or rehabilitation at a Rehabilitation Centre; or

[Am. by Act A1018]

(b) commits a breach of any rules relating to a Rehabilitation Centre, where no specific punishment is provided in such rules for such breach;

[Am. by Act A1018]

(c) incites any resident of a Rehabilitation Centre to commit a breach of any rules relating to such Centre;

[Am. by Act A1018]

(d) uses any indecent, threatening, abusive or insulting words or gestures, or otherwise behaves in a threatening or insulting manner, against any person exercising any powers, discharging any duties or performing any functions in relation to the custody, treatment, rehabilitation, residence or supervisi


21 PART V GENERAL-21. Period of any imprisonment or detention to be deemed to be period of residence, after-care or supervision.

(1) Where a person who is undergoing residence at a Rehabilitation Centre supervision by an officer or has been ordered to do so but has not yet commenced to undergo the same, is sentenced by any court to any term of imprisonment, or by a *Court for Children to a term of detention, or is detained under any law relating to preventive detention, such imprisonment or detention shall take precedence over the residence or supervision as aforesaid, and the period of imprisonment or detention served shall be deemed to be residence at a Rehabilitation Centre or supervision, as the case may be, and if upon completion of such period of imprisonment or detention there still remains unexpired any portion of the period for which he had been ordered to reside at a Rehabilitation Centre, or undergo supervision, as the case may be, he shall be required to reside at a Rehabilitation Centre or undergo supervision, as the case may be, for such unexpired portion thereof.<


22 PART V GENERAL-22. Contribution for cost of maintenance, treatment and rehabilitation.

(1) Where a Magistrate makes an order requiring any person to reside at a Rehabilitation Centre, he may, at the time of making such order, or at any time thereafter during the currency of such order make an order, requiring such person, or where such person is a minor, requiring his parent or guardian, to pay such amount as may be specified in the order to the Director General as contribution towards the cost of the maintenance, treatment and rehabilitation of such person at the Rehabilitation Centre.

(2) Before making an order subsection (1), the Magistrate shall consider the report of a Rehabilitation Officer relating to the circumstances of the person against whom the order is proposed to be made (a copy of which report shall be supplied to such person) and give an opportunity to such person to make representations in the matter to the Magistrate.

(3) A Magistrate may, on the application of any person against whom an order under subs


23 PART V GENERAL-23. Delegation by Director General.

The Director General may delegate in writing to any Rehabilitation Officer by name or office any power conferred on him under this Act.




24 PART V GENERAL-24. Jurisdiction.

(1) Notwithstanding any provision in the Subordinate Courts Act 1948 [Act 92] or the Criminal Procedure Code or any other written law to the contrary, any power or jurisdiction conferred on a Magistrate under sections 4, 6 and 22 of this Act over the matters specified therein, may be exercised by any Magistrate at any place whether such matters arose within or outside the local jurisdiction of the Magistrate or within or outside the local limits of his court.

[Am. by Act A1018]

(2) A Magistrate exercising power under sections 4, 6 or 22 may do so at any place, other than an open and public court, considered convenient for the purpose by the Magistrate, whether such place is within or outside the precincts of the court building.

[Am. by Act A1018]




25 PART V GENERAL-25. Protection of persons acting under authority of this Act.

Any person who does any act in pursuance of any of the provisions of this Act or of any subsidiary legislation made thereunder shall not be subject to any civil or criminal liability in respect thereof, whether on the ground of want of jurisdiction, mistake of law or fact or on any other ground unless he has acted in bad faith or without reasonable care.




26 PART V GENERAL-26. Activity which will assist treatment and rehabilitation.

Any person undergoing treatment and rehabilitation in a Rehabilitation Centre may be required to engage in any activity which, in the opinion of the person in charge of the Rehabilitation Centre, will assist in his treatment and rehabilitation, and such activity may involve employment in or outside the Rehabilitation Centre.

[Am. by Act A1018]




27 PART V GENERAL-27. Separation of minors.

Where a minor is held in custody, or is required to reside at a Rehabilitation Centre under any provision of this Act, or is being conveyed to or from any place while in such custody, or such residence, as the case may be, arrangements shall be made so that he is held in such custody, or so resides, or is so conveyed, in a manner which will ensure that he does not associate with and is segregated from an adult or adults who are being so held in custody, or are so residing, or are being so conveyed.

[Am. by Act A1018]




28 PART V GENERAL-28. Rules.

(1) The Minister may make rules for the further, better and more convenient carrying out of the provisions or purposes of this Act and in particular, but without derogating from the generality of the foregoing, with respect to any or all of the following matters:-

(a) to prescribe anything which is required to be prescribed under this Act;

(b) to provide forms for use in connection with any matter under this Act;

(c) to regulate the establishment, management and control of Rehabilitation Centres, and private rehabilitation centres, including provision for the powers, duties and functions of persons in charge of such centres or employed at such Rehabilitation Centres or private rehabilitation centres;

[Am. by Act A1018]

(d) to provide for the discipline, education, vocational training and employment of persons undergoing treatment and rehabili


29 PART V GENERAL-29. Repeal.

The words "for matter relating to the treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependants," appearing in the long title, the definitions of "Board of Visitors", "detection centre", "Director General", "drug dependant", "rehabilitation centre" and "rehabilitation committee" in section 2, and Part VA, of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 [Act 234] are repealed.




30 PART V GENERAL-30. Transitional.

Notwithstanding anything contained in section 29, where before the commencement of this Act:-

(a) any person has been taken into custody; or

(b) has been or is being dealt with in any manner by any court, Magistrate, Social Welfare Officer, Board of Visitors, or any other officer or authority,

under Part VA of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 [Act 234] , the provisions of that Act, including the said Part VA thereof, shall continue to apply in relation to such person, save that the references to officers and authorities under the said Part VA shall be construed as references to the corresponding officers and authorities established under this Act.




31 PART V GENERAL-31. Amendment of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

The Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 [Act 234] is amended by inserting immediately after section 38 new sections 38A and 38B as follows:-

" 38A. Powers of Court in respect of drug dependants below the age of eighteen.

(1) Where any person below the age of eighteen years is found guilty of an offence against this Act other than in the case of an offence under section 6B or 39B or other than in a case where a person is found guilty of an offence against this Act for which the punishment shall be under section 39A, the Court shall consider a report of a Rehabilitation Officer as defined in the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 [Act 283] and if the Court is satisfied that such person is a drug dependant as certified by a government medical officer and that having regard to the circumstances of the case and the character, antecedents, health or mental condition of the person charged it is inexpedie