The Malaysian Insight

ONCE a hotbed of drug abuse and crime, the Sri Selangor flats in the capital city have seen a change, thanks to increased police presence, a rehabilitation clinic in the complex itself and community efforts to keep the young away from negative influences.

Hafiz Mohd Nadzri, who grew up in the area better known as San Peng flats, said as a child he was used to seeing drug addicts shooting up in broad daylight. 

Vacant units, the stairs and lobby were among their favourite spots and pushers could be seen loitering around selling drugs in the open.

The 25-year-old, who now works as a research assistant at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia  (UTM), said raids by the authorities were a common occurrence.

But things have changed in the last decade at one of Kuala Lumpur’s oldest flats, following the authorities’ increased presence with plainclothes officers performing frequent spot checks in the area. 

“After 2009, I noticed that drug activities here became more discreet. I still remember as an eight-year-old, watching drug addicts herded into a police truck. 

“Drug abuse was really prevalent back then. Some of the addicts and pushers were residents but some of them were also outsiders,” Hafiz told The Malaysian Insight. 

The six blocks of the Sri Selangor flats were built in 1972 as one of the earliest people’s housing projects in Kuala Lumpur. Preceding them were the demolished Tunku Abdul Rahman flats or Pekeliling flats built between 1964 and 1967. 

“Although San Peng is notorious for drugs in Kuala Lumpur, things have changed in the past 10 years. People can no longer generalise our flats as a hotbed of drug abuse,” said resident Mustapa Hamat, 71, who has lived there since 1975.

Sri Selangor residents’ association (RA) chairman Norzaimi Shamsuri credited the reduction in drug problems to the Kenanga police station based at the flats.

“We urged police to increase their officers, especially plainclothes officers, to patrol our flats. That’s when we started to see the changes. 

“One reason San Peng flats used to be such a hot spot for drugs was because of the multiple entrances to the area – there are eight different entrances,” Norzaimi said.

The association has also held various initiatives to fight social ills, such as by introducing futsal and netball clinics for youth, as well as classes to learn traditional Malay instruments like the kompang.

“We have to do this to ensure the kids are not loitering aimlessly. This is one way we look after the children and youth in our area,” he said. 

Confronting the problem

The San Peng flats also house a Cure and Care Service Centre (CCSC), a rehabilitation centre run by the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) since 2011.

It is one of five centres run by the AADK in Kuala Lumpur, in places identified as drug abuse hot spots, such as Kerinchi and Chow Kit.

AADK also operates a methadone clinic at the flats’ commercial complex, in collaboration with the Health Ministry. 

San Peng CCSC coordinator Kamal Jusoh said the centre not only serves addicts from the flats but also helps drug users from elsewhere.

“Currently, we have eight in-patients, which is the maximum number. This centre is always full, we don’t have to do any outreach programme to get clients. 

“For the methadone clinic, we have 76 active clients. Most of them come here almost daily to take methadone under close monitoring by our pharmacist,” said Kamal. 

The use of methadone under the Health Ministry’s drug substitution therapy programme was introduced in 2005 to curb addiction and prevent the spread of diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS, since no needles are used. 

Pharmacist Nur Najwa Mohd Shohaime said methadone is safer for drug users who want to change and is prescribed under supervision and guidelines set by the ministry.

“Some patients are also allowed to bring home their dosage. But patients will be assessed by a doctor first, to ensure they are stable, responsible and comply with the criteria,” she said at the methadone clinic.

AADK has also designed several drug rehabilitation programmes which include a psycho-social aspect to ensure early recovery and relapse prevention. 

“Those who come here do so voluntarily. They can stay here between one and three months based on our packages. 

“They are also like normal people who go to work daily, it’s just that I usually advise them to take up jobs that will keep them busy so that they are not easily distracted by friends or negative influence,” Kamal said.

Though drug abuse is no longer rampant at the flats, there are other problems such as shoplifting.

Jito Kaur, 80, who sells Punjabi suits and sarees at the commercial complex, said traders have to be watchful.

“Some addicts still steal things. They will see if the shop is manned or not,” she said. – February 15, 2018.