This is my speech on behalf of Kedah State Drug Rehabilitation Committee during Benchmark Visit to Thailand Drug Rehabilitation Centres on 24th September 2025. The joint session was chaired by Dr Kanok Uttawichai, Director of Thanyarak Songkhla Hospital :
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, Sawadee krub, and a very good morning.
Dr Kanok Uttawichai, Distinguished Director of Thanyarak Songkhla Hospital with respected colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.
It gives me great pleasure and honour, on behalf of the Kedah State Drug Rehabilitation Committee, to be here today at Thanyarak Hospital in Songkhla. Allow me first to convey our sincere gratitude for the warm reception and hospitality shown to us during this visit.
Together with us today is Kedah State Director of Malaysian National Anti Drug Agency, Mr Khairul Anwar Ahmad and his staffs; and Dr Muhamad Arif Muhamad Rasat, Addiction Psychiatrist and his fellow psychiatrists and paramedics from Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Setar Kedah. Among the delegates are also my groups of community volunteers from Kedah State Drug Rehabilitation Committee. We are as a community based organization (CBO) appointed by the Director General of Malaysian National Anti Drug Agency came from many professional backgrounds, has a role in facilitating government agencies and local society leaders in initiating and organising community rehabilitation programs using psycho-social approach and managing drug related social deviance.
Therefore, together we stand here not merely as guests, but as partners in a shared mission — the mission to address the challenges of drug abuse, rehabilitation, and recovery, which continue to affect our communities in both Malaysia and Thailand.
Why We Are Here Today
We are here today at Thanyarak Hospital, Songkhla, because we recognise and respect the leadership in this institution that has demonstrated excellence in the field of addiction treatment and rehabilitation.
Thanyarak Hospital has a reputation for innovation, research, and patient-centred care. It has set an example in Southeast Asia, and it is our hope that this visit will open doors for deeper collaboration and sharing of knowledge. We wish to learn from your best practices, and in turn, share our own experiences and models from Kedah and Malaysia.
Our Approach in Kedah
In Kedah, our Drug Rehabilitation Committee has taken a holistic approach. We believe that effective rehabilitation must go beyond detoxification. It must encompass:
1. Medical intervention – ensuring safe withdrawal management and treatment of co-occurring illnesses.
2. Psychological support – including counselling, behavioural therapy, and relapse prevention strategies.
3. Social reintegration – empowering patients to return to society with dignity through vocational training, education, and employment support.
4. Family and community involvement – because healing is most effective when it is shared, and when patients are surrounded by acceptance and care.
We have also strengthened partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, community leaders, and faith-based organisations to ensure rehabilitation is not confined to hospitals or centres, but extends into everyday life.
Areas of Cooperation
In the spirit of friendship and regional partnership, allow me to propose a few areas where Kedah and Songkhla may work closely together:
1. Exchange of knowledge and expertise – through seminars, workshops, and joint research in drug rehabilitation methods.
2. Training programs for healthcare professionals – where doctors, nurses, counsellors, and social workers from both sides can benefit from mutual exposure.
3. Cross-border rehabilitation support – creating referral pathways for individuals who may require treatment across borders.
4. Community-based recovery initiatives – collaborating on programs that empower families and communities to play an active role in prevention and rehabilitation.
5. Youth-focused interventions – since prevention is always better than cure, we must strengthen education and awareness among the younger generation to protect them from the dangers of drugs.
The Human Dimension
At the heart of all this, we must remember: drug addiction is not just about substances. It is about people. Each patient is a son, a daughter, a father, a mother, or a friend. They deserve dignity, compassion, and the opportunity to rebuild their lives. Our work, whether in Kedah or in Songkhla, is not just about reducing numbers or statistics — it is about restoring hope and transforming lives.
Closing Remarks
Before I conclude, let me once again thank the Director and the entire team at Thanyarak Hospital for your gracious hospitality and for sharing with us your insights and experiences.
We believe that today marks not just a visit, but the beginning of a stronger partnership between Kedah and Songkhla, between Malaysia and Thailand, in the fight against drug abuse. Together, we can build a future that is healthier, safer, and filled with hope for generations to come.
Khop Khun krub. Terima kasih, and thank you.
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