The Malaysian Substance Abuse Council (MASAC) has conveyed its condolences to the family of its deputy president and Pengasih Malaysia president Ramli Abd Samad who died today.

MASAC secretary-general Raja Azizan Suhaimi in a statement said Ramli died at 6am at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (PPUM) from motor neuron disease which had affected him since last year.

Ramli who leaves behind a widow and two children, will be laid to rest at Section 21 Shah Alam Muslim Cemetery after zohor prayers.

According to Raja Azizan, the deceased had helped to provide rehabilitation services to over 20,000 drug addicts, including 2,500 from abroad such as Iran, Yemen and Saudi Arabia since 1991.

“He had always advised those who have recovered from their addiction to use their experience to help drug addicts because he did not want young people to become victims of drug addiction, causing their parents to suffer,” he said.

Ramli was awarded an Honorary Master’s Degree in Counseling (Drug Abuse) in conjunction with Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) 19th convocation ceremony in 2021 for his contribution in developing the country’s drug rehabilitation treatment and care as well as providing over 30 years of service in drug abuse prevention, drug dependence treatment and rehabilitation.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency