SANANEWS
VOL 49 • MCI (P) 130/02/2013
March 2013
The bonding and openness
amongst the family members
is amazing…. And we are seeing
sparks of what we sowed.
Buddy Mentor Volunteer Viji Torai
I have been to the pits,
hit rock-bottom, I know
how it feels when people
still care.
Ex-offender Ken Ho
Highlights
Tougher Challenges Ahead
2
Youth in Action
Our Vision for Singapore 2030
3
Families & Beyond
10
Volunteer & Donor Appreciation Nite
4
Making Headlines
14
Volunteers Wanted
15
Leading the Way: Marine Parade and Tampines 6
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3/1/13 5:23 PM
EDITORIAL / ANNOUNCEMENTS
Editorial
Tougher Challenges Ahead
Singapore has always taken a comprehensive
approach in dealing with the drug addiction
problem and this includes a ‘zero tolerance’ policy
on drug trafficking and drug abuse. This approach
has served the country well and we are in a better
situation than many other countries in the world in
curbing the spread of drug addiction. Compared to
1990s, the number of new drug abusers arrested
has declined overall.
The worrying picture,
however, is that the number of abusers arrested,
who are under 20 years of age and particularly
those under 15, has grown alarmingly. The usage
of new psychoactive substances, like ‘Ice’ and
‘Ecstasy’, has bred a more tolerant perspective
towards drug use among some youths who do not
see the new drugs as dangerous or harmful to their
well-being. Meanwhile, repeat offenders continue
to pose a major problem. As some 3,000 repeat
offenders will be released between 2012 and 2014,
the Government is concerned that the drug abuse
situation in Singapore could worsen in the next few
years.
In October 2011, the Steering Committee Taskforce
on Drugs was formed to recommend new strategies
and measures against drug trafficking and abuse.
What followed were changes to the Misuse of
Drugs Act passed by Parliament recently. They
were aimed at attacking the drug problem on both
the supply and demand side. The new legal regime
will be tougher on repeat offenders and those who
target the young and vulnerable. The changes to
the mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking –
leaving this to the discretion of the courts in just two
specific instances relating to individuals charged
– are aimed at making corporal punishment a
more effective weapon in our arsenal. The new
law will also lead to the setting up of a Community
Rehabilitation Centre for the aftercare treatment
of young addicts after they have undergone a short
period of detention at a Drug Rehabilitation Centre.
How will the new measures and the new strategy
affect the work of SANA? As the government’s aim
is to attack the drug problem on all fronts, that is,
more effective enforcement as well as rehabilitation
and preventive education, SANA will continue to
be in the thick of things in the new framework of
our struggle against drugs. Our expertise in case
management, counselling and after-care is well
known to other anti-drug agencies. It is likely that
we will be working closely with them in these fields
while SANA’s own workload of cases could also
increase, since the demand for counselling services
will grow as more inmates are released. In the area
of preventive education, our volunteers, particularly
in the Drug Abuse Prevention Committees (DAPCs)
could be more actively involved in programmes
directed at their constituencies. The debate on the
changes to the Misuse of Drugs Act would have
raised the awareness of our community leaders to
the difficulties we face on the drugs scene. SANA’s
challenge will be to ensure that the DAPCs succeed
in raising the consciousness of our heartlanders,
both the adults and the young, to the dangers of
drug abuse.
SANA ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING
SANA HELPLINE
1800-733-4444
SANA will be holding its 41st Annual General
Meeting on Saturday 22 June at 2:30pm at the SANA
Training Wing. Notice and the Agenda of the AGM,
Minutes of the previous meeting and the Annual
Report will be mailed out to all Life and Ordinary
members in June.
Provides information to the public on drug
abuse and offers support to recovering addicts
and their families by request. Call us on
1800-733-4444(toll free) between 8.30am – 6 pm
Monday to Friday. Telephone recording will be
activated outside these hours and on weekends
and public holidays.
Please note that only registered Life and Ordinary
members can attend this meeting.
We focus on drug-abuse prevention in three key areas – Preventive drug education, Prevention of re-offending in recovering
drug addicts and Prevention of inter-generational offending within families.
Our mission: to mobilise our community against drug abuse and strive towards a drug-free Singapore.
SANA News is published by SANA. Please direct your feedback, queries or suggestions to corporate@sana.org.sg
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SINGAPORE ANTI-NARCOTICS ASSOCIATION
2 Sengkang Square, Sengkang Community Hub #05-01, Singapore 545025
Tel: (65) 67321122 Fax (65) 67324564 www.sana.org.sg
Editorial Committee
Mr Raja Segaran Arumugam
Mr Lim Poh Quee
Ms Patricia Monkman
Contributors
Photographers: Quek Choon Meng &
Ong Jia Rui
Volunteer: Danica Lim
Aftercare & PDE Depts
Post Aftercare
Corporate
Volunteer Management
Editorial Board
Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA) is a Voluntary Welfare Organisation (VWO) set up in 1972 to prevent drug-abuse
in Singapore through education, counselling and rehabilitation.
2/28/13 4:47 PM
DIALOGUE
OUR VISION FOR SINGAPORE 2030
Volunteers & Clients Open their Hearts
Calls for a more forgiving and caring nation, giving
a ‘real’ second chance to ex-drug offenders (such
as job opportunities and becoming useful citizens
again), eliminating the stigma, greater recognition
and support from the government in helping them to
overcome the challenges they face – these were just
some of the recurring issues that surfaced at the “Our
Singapore Conversation” dialogue held at SANA on
the evening of 4 February 2013.
More than 50 SANA volunteers and clients participated
in a spirited, frank and moving dialogue and shared
their hopes for the kind of Singapore they want to
have in 2030.
“My wish for Singapore is that we become a more
forgiving society so that ex-offenders / drug offenders
may have a second chance to rebuild their lives.
Singapore media and society tends to be harsh and
judgmental. We tend to forget that people make
mistakes. What is important is that mistakes are
learned and that everyone is given a chance to reintegrate and become a useful citizen. If society does
not give them a chance, not only do they suffer, so do
their families. We do not want ex-offenders to lose
hope. What would Singapore be like if there is no hope?
“If people are not given a chance but continue to face
prejudice and are alienated by society, how do they
maintain their dignity and self-esteem? How do they
make a decent living if nobody gives them a chance?
What is the point of rehabilitation if they remain
‘condemned’ and ostracised even after they have
served out their sentence?” - Harold Tan, Ex-offender
“I am grateful for the opportunity to work with you. I
share similar sentiments about the session… it was a
humbling experience for me as a facilitator.” - Jayan
Warrier, WIAL Certified Senior Action Learning Coach,
IAF Certified Professional Facilitator
Participants formed small groups of between 6 to 8
and discussed issues that concern them, the changes
they wish to see and the kind of society they want.
The groups then merged and the facilitators from
each group presented a summary of their points,
while note-takers recorded their comments. The
entire Conversation was characterised by reason and
respect and the right to privacy.
Attitudes and Opportunities
• Among the comments that received strongest
reaction (from the thunderous applause to
enthusiastic ‘ayes’) was that relevant government
authorities should be more compassionate, forgiving
and supportive of the many challenges they faced.
More should be done to help them reintegrate to
become useful and equal members of society. They
want the stigma of being in prison removed and
cited examples of job-seekers who “could not even
get through the interview door” as job application
forms required applicants to declare a previous
conviction. If the applicant declared it, he would,
in most cases, not progress further in the interview
process; if he didn’t declare it, he would be lying.
There were ardent requests for these records to be
removed after 5 to 10 years of good conduct. “That’s
what giving us a second chance is about. We have
already been punished through imprisonment.” Or,
as a SANA client aptly put it, “to be given a chance
to be what I was to be.” (sic)
• They also hoped employers would not use their
conviction records to discriminate against them.
They asked to be treated on par with other
employees.
• Employers to be flexible and to tap on ex-offenders
to fill job vacancies, especially as there is a labour
shortage in Singapore.
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3/1/13 11:48 AM
VOLUNTEERS / OUTREACH
VOLUNTEER & DONOR APPRECIATION NITE
Commemorating SANA’s 40th Anniversary
President Tony Tan (centre) receives giant cheques from SANA’s top donors, as SANA’s president Mr Poh Geok Ek (left)
looks on. Left photo shows Mr Tan Wee Han presenting the cheque on behalf of Mr Peter Lim; in the photo on right,
Dr Tan Choon Kim, Chairman of Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple presents his donation.
SANA’s 40th Anniversary commemorated at the
SANA Volunteer & Donor Appreciation Nite 2012,
reflected the faith and support of donors, volunteers
and partner organisations in our mission and our
anti-drug programmes.
President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Guest of Honour,
presented SANA Appreciation Plaques to our top
two donors - Mr Peter Lim and Kwan Im Thong
Hood Cho Temple.
SANA’s donors and partners too received
Appreciation
Plaques
for
their
financial
contributions and support. Medals and Certificates
of Honour were awarded to long-serving volunteers
and committees for their years of dedication and
outstanding service. Primary school children
received SANA Study Awards for showing promise
and improvement.
to our donors and volunteers. A recovering addict
composed an original number ‘The Guiding Light’
especially for the occasion, and which our talented
clients belted out with emotion and panache.
Guest musicians, Menechoustix, comprising five
young Filipino amateur musicians gave a polished
performance of popular hit songs and kept the
evening upbeat. Celebrity radio presenter Brian
Richmond was our debonair Master of Ceremonies.
Approximately 420 guests attended
the SANA Nite held on 12 October at
the Amara Hotel; among them were
our volunteers from the Religious
Group of Volunteers, Drug Abuse
Prevention
Committees
and
various other programmes and
working partners.
The evening resonated with a celebratory feel
throughout. Our clients dedicated a musical tribute
About SANA Volunteer & Donor
Appreciation Nite
4
The SANA Volunteer & Donor Appreciation
Nite is an annual event where we
express our appreciation to our donors,
volunteers and working partners for
their immense contribution towards
our anti-drug programmes and in doing
so, have helped us in our core work
to engage youths, bond families and
rebuild lives.
Keeping the party on the right note, Emcee Brian Richmond
and guest performers Menechoustix.
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VOLUNTEERS / OUTREACH
Mr Poh Geok Ek presents Appreciation Plaques to the following, from left: Ms Geraldine Liou (Premier Corporation),
Mr Gerard Ee (Beyond Social Services), Mr Ho Linfo (Jit Poh Investments) and Mr Michael Ong (PCS Security).
The SANA Awards
SANA APPRECIATION PLAQUE
• Donors & Sponsors
Mr Peter Lim
Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple
PCS Security Pte Ltd
Lee Foundation
Premier Corporation Pte Ltd
Jit Poh Investments Pte Ltd
Shaw Foundation
Tan Chin Tuan Foundation
Pei Hwa Foundation Limited
Singapore Prison Service
Central Narcotics Bureau
Singapore Corp. of Rehabilitative Enterprises
Singapore Police Force
Beyond Social Services
Singapore Slingers
• All-Cash Donation Draw 2012
Wellington Primary School
Bartley Secondary School
Jiemin Primary School
Tampines Primary School
MacPherson Primary school
Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School
Tao Nan School
Internal Security Department
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
President Tony Tan meets our volunteers.
Unforgettable moment for our clients posing with
President Tony Tan.
LONG SERVICE AWARDS
• Medal of Honour (Silver)
Mr Syed Omar Bin Ahmad Aljunied, BBM Tampines GRC DAPC*
Mr Haji Sawal Hj Naim, PB, PBS Tampines GRC DAPC
Mr Haji Jasmani Bin Hj Abdul Murad Tampines GRC DAPC
MacPherson Drug Abuse Prevention Committee
• Medal of Honour (Bronze)
Mr Lim Thiam Poh Anthony, BBM MacPherson DAPC
Mr K N Raja Religious Group of Volunteers (Hindu)
Mr Nadarajan Chendran Religious Group of Volunteers (Hindu)
• Certificate of Honour
Mr Tan Lip Kwang Kelvin, PBM Jurong Spring DAPC
Ms Sarita Anand Aspire Camp Programme
Mr Lim Zhong Yue Ivan Community Reintegration Programme
Mr Tok Ru Jie Alan Anti-Drug & Inhalant Abuse Badge Scheme
& Aspire Camp
Mr Chan Wei Chun Vincent Anti-Drug & Inhalant Abuse Badge
Scheme & Aspire Camp
Mr Choy Wai Keong Jeremy Religious Group of Volunteers
(Christian)
Mr Gopalakrishnan s/o Madhavan Achudan Nair Religious
Group of Volunteers (Hindu)
SANA’s youth volunteers.
SANA Study Awards
Maisarah Binte Mohamad
Malek (Corporation Pri Sch)
Nurul Asyiqin Binte Kamsan
(Jiemin Pri Sch)
Muhammad Hazim Bin Mohd
Heily (Opera Estate Pri Sch)
B Shakti (Rosyth School)
Oscar Yeo Swee Hau (Xishan
Pri Sch)
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2/28/13 4:47 PM
REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITIES
LEADING THE WAY
Marine Parade
Two main national concerns egged the Marine
Parade DAPC (MPDAPC) to organise the drug
awareness event The Inside Story: Drugs & You.
First, that drug abusers in Singapore are getting
younger and secondly, many Singaporeans are still
not well-informed of the drug abuse situation here.
The MPDAPC is also keen to find ways to prevent
children and at-risk youths from succumbing to
drugs and negative peer pressure. Targeted at
community and grassroots leaders, youth clubs,
students and parents, The Inside Story: Drugs
& You signaled their commitment to tackle the
problems of drug abuse in the community through
a targeted approach.
Mrs Goh Kui Hwa, organising chairman and
MPDAPC grassroots advisor highlighted the
importance to create more awareness of increasing
drug-use among youths and to reach out to schools,
parent-groups and community clubs. She hoped to
set up a support network for ex-offenders and their
families. “In my own experience counselling prison
inmates, many wind back to prison because they
are unable to find support outside prison.”
Guest of Honour Mr Lim Biow Chuan, MP for
Mountbatten, said he hoped to see other DAPCs
too play a greater role in preventing drug-abuse in
their neighbourhoods.
MP for Mountbatten Mr Lim Biow Chuan (front) with Drugs &
You team. From left: Master Chung Kwang Tong (Singapore
Taoist Federation, ASP Aaron Tang (Central Narcotics Bureau),
Mr Suresh Anantha (NAMS), Mr Steven Tham (SANA), Mr Daryl
Han and Ms Goh Kui Hwa (both from MPDAPC)
The event which was held at Marine Parade
Community Building was attended by more than
200. It comprised an exhibition and talks. Speakers
from National Addictions Management Service
(NAMS), SANA and SANA RGV (Taoist) and Central
Narcotics Bureau, each shared their perspectives
on drug-abuse.
The youths aired their viewpoints.
Tampines
SANA participated in the Tampines West Edusave
Award Presentation held on Saturday January 12 at
Tampines West Community Club, where we set up
an exhibition booth showcasing samples of illegal
6
drugs such as Ice, Marijuana, Heroin and Cocaine to
highlight the dangers of drug abuse and addiction and
inform the public of their consequences on society.
The event’s Guest of Honour, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs
(third from right) takes five and poses with SANA’s Executive Mr Lim Poh Quee (second from right) and Assistant Director
Ms Rosalind Tan; third from left is Mr Elendrus Haji Osman, Chairman of Tampines GRC Anti-Drug Committee.
They are joined by SANA staff and volunteers from Tampines GRC Anti-Drug Committee.
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REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITIES
THE CHRISTMAS LOVE GIFT PROJECT
Volunteers Raise $8000 for Gifts to Families of Inmates
Keeping the connection through
Christmas Love Gifts.
Inset:
Rev Ngan Hock Cheng, Pastor Martin Chia
and Mr Ken Ho.
The “Christmas Love Gift” project which was
started by the Christian volunteers in SANA in 2009,
is now under the SANA Christian Religious Group of
Volunteers (RGV).
The gift comes in the form of Christmas hampers.
A total of 400 hampers were delivered in the
period 2009, 2011 and 2012 to needy families of
inmates at Prison Cluster B, who received spiritual
counselling.
The aim is to share the joy of giving at Christmas and
at the same time, convey the message of love from
inmates to their families. Many, touched by this act
of kindness, have reconciled with their estranged
family members. A father was deeply moved when
he learnt that his imprisoned son had nominated
the family to receive the love gift.
An interesting feature is the involvement of exoffenders who having benefited from this project,
are starting to give back after their release. One
such person is Ken Ho. “I have been to the pits, hit
rock-bottom, and I know how it feels when people
still care.” He is a SANA volunteer and studying for
a Specialist Diploma in Workplace Safety & Health.
“Volunteering helps me in my own recovery; it
reminds me of the pathetic condition I had been
in… you don’t want to go there,” he said, referring
to his incarceration.
The Christmas Love Gift project is led by Rev Ngan
Hock Cheng and Pastor Martin Chia of the New
Redeemer Fellowship Society and each year they
face the challenge of getting sufficient volunteers
- to raise funds, purchase the gift items, pack
and deliver. Last year the group had targeted 100
families, but instead 150 families received the gifts.
Total amount raised was a whopping $8000.00.
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2/28/13 4:48 PM
REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITIES
OUR RGVs AT WORK
Engaging Sikhs
The SANA Sikh Religious Group of Volunteers (RGVs)
participated in two major events in December 2012 that
were organised by the Sikh Community.
Singapore Expo. More than 1000 Sikh participants
and visitors attended the event held between 27-30
December. The SANA Sikh RGVs has been running
an information / outreach booth on preventive drug
education for the past two events.
The first was the Bahadur Bachey Youth Camp held on
15 December which targeted Sikh youths of secondaryschool level. The event was held at the Central Sikh
Temple in Towner Road and attracted more than 50
people. The programme included a talk by Central
Narcotics Bureau on Preventive drug education, quizzes
and an exhibition by SANA. One of the highlights was
the ‘Drug Prevention Awareness’ activity; this was the
first time such an activity was featured in the camp’s
programme.
The other is Naam Ras Kirtan Darbar, a religious Sikh
religious celebration held once every two years at the
Lighting up
SANA Hindu RGV members banked on the Festival
of Lights’ celebratory mood to spread the anti-drug
message at the annual Deepavali Bazaar 2012.
Between 23 October to 12 November, volunteers took
turns to man the booth located at Hastings Road in Little
India. They distributed anti-drug brochures and various
collaterals from SANA and the Central Narcotics Bureau.
SANA is grateful to all the kind volunteers who spent
their weekdays and weekends at the booth.
Members of the SANA Hindu Religious Group of Volunteers.
New Inspiration
I soon understood the drug problem in Singapore
through reading up on anti-drug literature and listening
to inspiring accounts by volunteers who work in prisons.
All these helped me realise that everyone can play an
important part in helping those whose lives are affected
by drug abuse and gave me the confidence to share
this new understanding with parishioners of St Ignatius
Churches and other churches.
8
As I made my way down to St Ignatius Church to
volunteer for SANA for the first time in July last year,
I felt some apprehension, not knowing what to expect;
I had not volunteered in a drug awareness programme
before. However, under the guidance of Miss Karen Sng
(Chairperson, Religious Group of Volunteers [Catholic])
and meeting with several enthusiastic volunteers, I soon
felt assured.
I thoroughly appreciate this opportunity to spread the
awareness of the dangers of drug-abuse to the public.
I had a wonderful lunch and mass with His Grace
Archbishop Nicholas Chia.
Danica Lim
Volunteer, RGV (Catholic)
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2/28/13 4:48 PM
REACHING OUT TO SCHOOLS
YOUTH IN ACTION
Fellowship in Preventive Drug Education
SANA’s Badge Scheme and Aspire Camp instructors
and facilitators enjoyed an evening of relaxation and
networking at SANA on 5 January 2013.
The gathering, organised by SANA Preventive
Education Department (PDE), provided opportunities
to socialise and to foster better relationships among
them and more importantly to show our appreciation
for their participation and support in these
programmes over the years.
The event was preceded by a training session in the
afternoon for 10 Badge Scheme Instructors and seven
new recruits, where the importance of the training was
highlighted to the youths. The programme included
presentations and team bonding games, after
From left Senior instructors Alan Tok,
Tan Hui Hui and Kelvin Tan receive a token of
appreciation each from Mr Steven Tham.
which Mr Steven Tham, Assistant Director (PDE [1],
Aftercare & Post-Aftercare) gave the closing speech
and presented tokens of appreciation to three Senior
Instructors. Dinner and a lucky draw for 29 prizes
followed. Prizes included a Philips mini component
set, Walkman set, table lamps and vouchers from
Frasers Mall, Takashimaya Departmental Store and
Popular Bookstore.
In their feedback, the new volunteer instructors
said they had an enjoyable and fruitful day and that
the training boosted their confidence in conducting
the courses. They were also pleased that their
contribution was recognised and appreciated and felt
that such events helped in fostering tighter bonds.
Socialising with a cause. Youth volunteers chilling
out at SANA Recreation Lounge.
A Positive Journey
SANA’s Aspire Camp, now in its sixth consecutive year,
takes on an experiential learning approach, providing
the youngsters with opportunities for building selfefficacy and teamwork, and enriching their knowledge
on drugs through an anti-drug presentation and video
screening.
In 2012, we organised 17 camps and reached out to
453 students; five schools from the western part of
the island participated in Aspire Camp for the first
time.
Basketball pros, the Singapore Slingers, continue to
support the programme, with the players attending the
sessions providing positive role modeling and sharing
personal testimonials and anti-drug messages. They
also encourage the students to adopt a healthy drugfree lifestyle through in sports. We are happy that
Singapore Slingers will continue to support us in 2013.
Chong Zheng Pri School students actively
participate in the Impact game that highlights
the consequences of drug-abuse.
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3/1/13 5:24 PM
ENGAGING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
FAMILIES & BEYOND
The Gotong-Royong Spirit
The Beyond Social Services’ Family Learning Center
in Sembawang is becoming a familiar weekend retreat
of sorts for some of SANA’s clients and their families
who eagerly look forward to a peaceful getaway with
other families, mentors and SANA staff.
Approximately 40 attended the year-end GotongRoyong Community Event (GRCE) on 17-18 November.
The regular presence of Zulkhairee Udik, his wife and
daughter, Buddy Mentor Viji Torai, SANA staff and
counsellors lent reassurance and affirmance to the
commitment of the programme.
The event allows for each family to come together as a unit working on simple and meaningful activities
like expressing their dreams and aspirations through drawings. Children delight at the arts and crafts
activity which encourages family participation and inspires communication. Here also families learn to
socialize and cooperate, such as over the BBQ where everyone shares the food they bring and takes turns
at the barbeque. This reflects the Gotong-royong spirit of cooperation within communities.
The GRCE weekend is part of Post-Aftercare Family Engagement Programme, providing crucial support to
clients and their families so they can network, learn from each other’s positive experiences, pick up new
coping skills and find the strength to live a life without drugs.
I believe that Gotong Royong “Kampong Spirit” has grown to a certain level of maturity.
The platform created to foster integration of family, build on-going relationship, learn life transforming skills,
and share experiences has been effective. This traditional approach has offered a unique opportunity for families
to experience a new and special recovery process in their relationships.
The bonding and the openness amongst the family members is amazing. More are willing to share their pain
and their personal challenges. Over the two years, Gotong Royong created the space and planned activities to
ensure lasting change and staying clean. And we are seeing sparks of what we sowed...
My heart warmed when I spotted a new client and his family coming for the first time and immediately welcomed
and connected with the group. At the closing session the group shared their gratitude to SANA and volunteers
for giving them encouragement and hope. Rosie’s (client) comment captured the emotion: “We see all of you as
family, friends and not as SANA staff or volunteers.”
Ms Viji Torai
Buddy Mentor Volunteer
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ENGAGING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
STRENGTHENING BONDS OF TRUST
Coming Together
The Community Nite events, organised in June and December, respectively,
reflected the integrative area of our work that is to restore the confidence
of, and reintegrate into society clients in our post aftercare rehabilitation
programme.
Through this programme, clients and their families become a community,
unified by a support network of befrienders, counsellors and other
families in similar situations. This 100-plus strong group came out in
full force, displaying and sharing their talents in food, music and dance
on the two nights. SANA Board and Management, Buddy Mentors,
Staff and Supporters were also present – all of whom are continuously
strengthening the morale and bonding.
Two young children whose parents are in the programme, planned birthday surprises
for them, which resulted in the children being rained with numerous well-wishers from
everyone in the huge instant party. Imagine what that does for the kids!
If Gotong-Royong provided them the impetus to re-integrate into society, the Community
Nite made it real and visible for them.
Many thanks to a star line-up on both evenings, comprising Zulkhairee, Mustakem,
Zubaidah and family, Sabalina and family, Yasin and Steve and guest performers The
Overcomers, Daniel Ng and Ken.
Road to the Future
Some two years ago, Kamsani Saripi, 45, underwent
SANA’s CMF programme*, made a decision to stay clean
from drugs and has stuck to it. He soon secured a job as a
chiller technician with BondPlas Services Pte Ltd, a firm
specialising in air-conditioning (chiller) maintenance.
His boss, finding Kamsani a diligent and hardworking
employee, sent him for a skills upgrading course. Boosted
by his employer’s faith and confidence in him helped
Kamsani to remain firm on the difficult road to recovery.
In addition, the open channels of communication with
SANA counsellor, BondPlas and Kamsani have kept the
relationships positive and rooted to reality.
“Having a job is very important. It gives a person a
purpose and keeps the mind from negative thoughts,”
he said.
Kamsani is an active participant in our Post Aftercare
programmes that involve families, peers and the
community in the rehabilitation process.
The success in Kamsani journey is the result of the
combined power of counselling, strong personal
conviction, rehabilitation and peer support. This for
SANA is a positive outcome of our Aftercare and Post
Aftercare Rehabilitation programmes.
Kamsani
blames
his
ego and stupidity for his
downfall into drugs – the
‘cannot lose’ mentality;
he felt that if others could
do drugs, so could he. He
started at 12, in Primary
6. He got through his
PSLE exams, but did his
O-levels in prison. He’s Kamsani – looking ahead!
been incarcerated seven times. “My mum, dad and
brother all died when I was in prison.” His eldest
son’s plaintive pleading finally moved him: “Pa, if
you don’t love us, it’s OK, but please love yourself.”
Today a confident Kamsani is ready to offer himself
to society. He is the chairman of the SANA peermentor initiated Old Folks Home Visit programme,
and wants “to show our senior citizens that
somebody still cares for them; we’ll talk to them
and entertain them, so they don’t think they are
forgotten.”
* CMF programme: Case Management Framework is
a holistic programme with an individualised Service
Plan. It comprises a two-month pre-release counselling
(in-care phase) and 6-month aftercare assistance, plus
an optional additional six months, if necessary.
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EVENTS / VOLUNTEERS
SANA CHARITY
GOLF 2013
Chipping in for Charity
SANA Charity Golf – one of major fund-raising
programmes – is back and we need your support.
Date: 21 August 2013
Venue: Seletar Country Club
Time: 1 pm (Shotgun)
We are looking for sponsors / donors to help us
meet our target of $150,000. The sponsorships can
be in the form of flight purchase, prizes and gifts
for goodie-bags, or an outright donation for any
amount.
Money raised will fund our programmes in
preventive drug education and rehabilitation and
help us extend our outreach in the community.
For flight costs and other queries, please email
corporate@sana.org.sg or ring us at 6732-1122.
Last year’s SANA Charity Golf: The ‘A’ Team; Minister
S Iswaran (in purple top) posing with Dr Aw Leng Hwee,
Mr Tan Ching Khoon and Mr Poh Geok Ek.
VOLUNTEERS’ YEAR-END PARTY
Taking time off with the
ladies - SRC Chairman
Percival Shepherdson with
Sarjit Kaur and Corina Seah
The SANA Recreation Club (SRC) held its Annual
Year-end Party on Friday 14 December at the
brightly decorated SANA Training Wing. Around 70
volunteers and guests showed up for an evening of
music, fun, food, games and prizes – to chill-out,
be merry and let their hair down.
The evening started out with light cocktails and
snacks. SANA staff Lim Khoon Min, unofficial
minstrel, entertained with some golden oldies on
his old banjo. Dinner soon followed and the night
was further spiced with songs, games and luckydraw prizes.
We would like to thank the following for sponsoring
the wonderful prizes: SRC Chairman Mr Percival
Shepherdson, Vice-Chairman Mr Robert Tan,
Auditor Ms Corina Seah and Madras Woodlands
Restaurant.
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BUILDING AWARENESS
SHARING THE SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE
Learning Journeys
SANA team pose with visitors from Narcotics
Control Bureau (Brunei) and students from
University of Hull, Hong Kong (right).
SANA played host to half a dozen foreign delegations
from the second half of last year to January this year.
They came from China, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia
and Taiwan. Their formal visits to SANA were part
of their overseas exposure and learning journeys
to learn how SANA works in the rehabilitation of
drug addicts and provides assistance and support
to them and their families.
Their profiles differed vastly, from university
undergraduates in criminology and security studies
on overseas study tours to senior government
officials in politics, law, justice and public security
keen to gain insights into our programmes and how
we work with our partners in achieving our vision
for a drug-free Singapore.
The visitors are given an in-depth presentation of the
work of SANA in the three major areas: Preventive
Drug Education, Aftercare Counselling and Post
Aftercare Rehabilitation. The programme, which
takes about half a day, includes a Q&A session and
a tour of our premises. The SANA team is led by
Executive Director Mr Lim Poh Quee.
OUR RECENT VISITORS
Narcotics Control Bureau, Brunei
Scholars from Pudong, China
University of Hull, Hong Kong
Agency of Corrections, Ministry of Justice, Taiwan
Prince Naif Univ of Security Studies, Saudi Arabia
Public Security Dept of Ji Lin Province, China
Chong Qing Municipal City, Politics & Law
Committee, China
Delegates from the Chong Qing looking at samples
of illegal drugs.
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BUILDING AWARENESS
MAKING HEADLINES
Telling Our Stories Through Words and Deeds
SANA continues to provide details of our various
programmes – in preventive drug education,
counselling and rehabilitation. In recent months
we have shared stories on the pitfalls of drug abuse
and the achievements of sustained rehabilitative
efforts by both clients and counsellors. The success
stories of our clients and counsellors is told and
retold through the various media – newspaper
reports, television talk-shows and docudramas and
radio interviews – in all four official languages.
SANA also received the support of the Singapore
President Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam when he graced
the SANA Volunteer & Donor Appreciation Nite
2012 and 40th anniversary celebrations as Guest of
Honour. In his message, President Tony Tan said
that he recognised that with our “strong network
of community partners and pool of committed
volunteers, SANA is best placed to reach out and
help at-risk groups beat the temptation of drugs
before they fall in to the drug trap.”
Mr Iswaran, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office and
Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and
Industry, also noted that “SANA continues to find
new and creative ways to raise citizens’ awareness
of the dangers of drug and inhalant abuse” in his
message as Guest of Honour at SANA’s Charity Golf
last year.
SANA’s neighbourhood anti-drug grassroots
organisation, the Marine Parade Drug-Abuse
Prevention Committee, organised a drug
awareness event The Inside Story: Drugs & You,
14
which attracted much media attention. The media
took the opportunity to get more information on
drug abuse in the community and spoke to youth
volunteers and key people, among them MP for
Mountbatten Mr Lim Biow Chuan.
SANA’s success is perhaps most satisfying when
echoed by our benefactors – our clients. Ex-addicts
Zulkhairee Udik and Mustakem Rais are now
training to be SANA mentors to recovering drug
abusers. “I never thought I could come this far. If
they (SANA) believe in me, I must believe in myself,”
said Zulkhairee.
Through words and deeds.
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BUILDING AWARENESS
VOLUNTEERING WITH SANA
THE MISUSE OF DRUGS
(AMENDMENT) BILL
What it means to us
Volunteer Activity :
•To facilitate the weekly ‘SANA
Secular In-Care Programme
Activities’ to a group of multiracial special prison in-mates.
Secular
In-Care
Volunteers
Qualities We Are Seeking :
•Singaporean or Singapore PR.
•Compassionate, dependable,
mature and aged 35 years and
above.
Commitment Term :
•Be available on Tuesdays,
Saturdays or Sundays between
10am to 12pm; and 2pm to 5pm.
•Must be able to commit for a
minimum of 1year or more.
Support Provided :
•‘Introduction to Programme’
briefing session will be provided
upon registering.
•Prison BVT training will be
applicable.
For More Information &
Briefing Registration,
please contact :
Norhatijah at
6732 1122 ext 25
norhatijah@sana.org.sg
Stepping Up On Pro-Bono
More than 35 volunteers and staff members turned
up for lawyer Pratap Kishan’s first pro-bono session
at SANA last August.
Among the areas Mr Kishan spoke on were
confidentiality between counsellor / volunteer
befriender and the client, the risk of liability arising
from volunteering and injury or damage sustained by
volunteers when doing volunteering in and outside
prison. A lively Q & A session followed afterwards.
There will be another session by Mr Kishan scheduled
for Friday, 15 March, 7 pm. If you are a SANA volunteer
counsellor and are interested in attending this, please
contact S Nathan at 6732-1122 ext 84 or email him at
nathan@sana.org.sg Places are limited.
In November last year, Parliament passed new
reforms to the Misuse of Drugs Act aimed at
tackling new challenges to the drug scourge,
yet still maintaining our zero tolerance stance
against drugs.
Among the changes is the doing away with the
mandatory death penalty for drug traffickers
under very specific conditions. These are the
conditions:
1.
That the trafficker must have only played
the role of courier and must not have been
involved in any other activity related to the
supply or distribution of drugs.
2.
That the trafficker has cooperated with
authorities in a substantive way, leading to,
for example, the crackdown of a syndicate or
if the trafficker has a mental disability which
impairs his judgment.
This change could strengthen our drug
enforcement agency to reach further into the
drug syndicates and save lives from being
destroyed by drugs and make it harder for drug
syndicates to operate in Singapore.
There are concerns that there may be couriers
who are innocent or are so low in the trafficking
syndicate that they would have little information
of use to authorities. Authorities have however
stated that it is not difficult to get people in this
region to become a courier due to its lucrative
pay and that every arrested courier is potentially
a lead back to the syndicate.
The policy intent behind requiring substantive
cooperation by couriers (allowing them to escape
the gallows) is not so much about helping them
escape punishment, but to make it harder for
drug syndicates to operate. Where the Public
Prosecutor has certified that substantive
cooperation has been provided, judges will have
the discretion not to sentence the drug trafficker
to death.
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BUILDING AWARENESS
ALL-CASH DONATION
DRAW 2013
Raising Funds to Keep
Out Drugs
Each year SANA works with more than 8000 students
and youths in our drug prevention initiatives. We
also work – in counselling and rehabilitation – with
more than 600 ex-offenders, recovering addicts
and their families, focusing on prevention of
re-offending, contamination and inter-generational
offending.
By buying a SANA Donation Draw ticket for just $2,
you can help to keep out drugs – among the youths
and in families.
The draw date is 28 September 2013.Call us on
6732-1122 for more information on how you can
help.
SALLY NEEDS YOU!
Sally’s downward spiral began when she was 13.
She started with cocaine, then heroin, ecstasy, ice,
whatever she could get. At first it wasn’t to get
high but to blank out the abuse and pain her father
rained upon her. Escapism turned to addiction.
Sally has been caught and imprisoned five times,
and after each time battled to stay clean. It’s a
constantly hard, uphill struggle – a fight she won’t
give up!
Sally is now in her mid-20s. She is one of the many
recovering addicts that SANA helps through our
counselling and rehabilitation programmes.
Sally needs us and we need your help to keep these
programmes running, at about $650,000 each year.
Please donate so we can help Sally return to a
normal life, free from drugs. Your donation is tax
exempt at 2.5 times.
Please complete the form below and mail it
with your cheque to Singapore Anti-Narcotics
Association, 2 Sengkang Square, Sengkang
Community Hub, #05-01, Singapore 545025. Or you
can contact us on corporate@sana.org.sg or email
corporate@sana.org.sg for more information.
“Drugs destroyed me
…but I still want to
change my life,”
Sally, SANA Client
Courtesy: Nina Macari
I wish to make a donation to help fight drug abuse.
I attach a crossed cheque for the following amount:
$5,000.00
$3,000.00
$1,000.00
Other amount (please state) $_____________
Cheque No. / Bank______________________________
Full Name (as in NRIC) Mr / Mrs / Ms
______________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
______________________________________________
Email:_ ________________________________________
Telephone: _____________________________________
Your donation is tax deductible. Please provide your Tax
Reference Number (e.g. NRIC/FIN/UEN) in the space
indicated below, to be forwarded to IRAS.
You do not need to claim the deduction in your tax form
as the deduction will be automatically included in your
tax assessment.
NRIC / FIN/ UEN No: ____________________
Thank you for your kind donation.
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