Pubdate: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 Source: Star (Malaysia) Copyright: 2000 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. Contact: 13 Jalan 13/6, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia Website: http://www.thestar.com.my HELP EX-ADDICTS BY HIRING THEM, BOSSES URGED SHAH ALAM: Former drug addicts should be given employment opportunities to prevent them from returning to their old habits. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said employers could help these former addicts to return to society by hiring them. "Accept them. Give them any suitable job and at the same time institute proper supervision,'' he said after launching the International Anti-Drug Day at the Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd (Proton) grounds yesterday. More than 4,000 participants from government agencies and departments as well as workers from several factories, including Proton, took part in a parade in conjunction with the day. Abdullah said employers should have more compassion before denying work to former addicts. He said they needed proper guidance and assistance not only from their family members but also from other members of society. Abdullah said drug abuse was still considered the primary public enemy to the nation and that more efforts were needed to fight the problem. He added that the problem was not restricted to any level of socio-economic status and that it was a menace to the poor as well as the rich. "Although the new statistics show that there are fewer new addicts, unfortunately there are more repeat cases. "We cannot relax and neglect this problem because there is still more work to be done,'' he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk