KUANTAN: The Home Ministry will lift its freeze on permits for foreign therapists working in spas provided they submit supporting documents to show that they are genuine, its minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said.

He added that they must also have a training programme for locals so the spa could eventually be managed by Malaysians.

"We have decided that we will approve the application for foreign therapists provided they can show that they are genuine.

"The companies must also have training programmes for Malaysians to take over.

"In other words, we will revoke the freezing of work permits for foreign therapists for spas," he told reporters after breaking fast with staff members of public defence department and national anti-drug agency in Indera Mahkota here on Tuesday.

On the anti-drug agency, Syed Hamid said the agency had beefed up its workforce by engaging some 1,500 employees recently and that the Government had set aside a generous allocation for its activites.

It was in line with the Government's call for the country to have zero drug problems by 2015, he added.