I believe that HIV affects those who promote polygamy and have weak protection for victims of sexual crimes and for women. That is the reason the government wants to appear to be protecting the Muslim community without revealing too much, hence going through the Islamic channels.

Again, it fails to address both the preventive AND the detective measures. What happens after positive detection? How can we prevent that HIV from infecting the next person he/she has sex with, or shares the needle with?

On lack of confidentiality – do both partners have the right to know of each other’s test results? And if one tests positive, will the rest of the family members and extended members be highlighted of the “real reason for cancellation of marriage”? Even if they are not told, will these relatives be nosy and start gossiping hence create a stigma for the unwed couple?

I myself was tested for HIV when pregnant however no consent was sought and the nurses just went ahead anyway. Is that our health policy? Just detection, detection, detection?

AIDS is the outcome of a certain lifestyle. Yes, some may have got the HIV through innocent blood transfusion, but the main reason in Malaysia is drug use and unsafe heterosexual intercourse. Will this be a generation curse for those who indulge in extra-marital affairs?

Should not the policy be HIV testing for Muslims on an ANNUAL BASIS, if the government is serious about identifying those with HIV?

AIDS is not prejudiced, unlike Malaysian education and housing and politics. AIDS affects all who choose an unhealthy way of living and is a generation-curse due to the actions of the heads of families (parents). In many developed countries, they have very strong awareness campaigns to prevent the stigma against people with AIDS. Here in Malaysia, just a song or two on RTM is called awareness? Just take a look at the awareness of safety-belt usage for car passengers – non-existent and pathetic.

All I believe of the Mahathir/Badawi/Najib regime is detective tests means more money for the cronies. Healthy citizens do not put money in cronies’ pockets.

Couldn’t have agreed more. Health matters must be handled by health personnel. Would they have liked it, if health personnel made a policy or two on religious matters?

Today, Islamic agencies are everywhere – but here in regards to HIV they appear a little more concerted. I agree that HIV is a public health issue. However, because it does relate to social issues – such as sex, trust ,and gender relations, it should have a broader dimension.
Rather than limit it to public health (and the assumption that it is a matter solely for MoH), it should be something that almost all ministries should engage in. Here at least, the more the merrier. For instance, there is room to talk about HIV among youths, in the labour ministry, among women and children, in the foreign ministry, in the home ministry, etc.

And the public should get involved. Furthermore, I find it very disheartening that at the heart of this issue, people are not asking PLWHA what they feel. They certainly are important as the actions taken effects them directly.

It is also sad to read in a related story that once found positive, couples are advised by the physicians/authorities not to get married. If a couple chooses to marry, the blood test, like the kursus kahwin in my opinion is just formality. The authorities have no right to discourage marriage but having done so it reflects the continued stigmatisation that some physicians and other people in authority have towards those infected.

Would the authorities also advise someone who has had TB not to follow through with plans to get married? With such attitudes among those in authority towards HIV, are we to expect that the issue will be address objectively and without prejudice?

The reason this is only for Muslims is very simple. Religious issues come under state control. Therefore HIV is being treated here as a religious issue, not a public health issue. This is why no public health arguments work with the state religious departments (I should know, I led a delegation to meet with the Johor religious department in 2001).

Bringing in religion into AIDS then puts a complete different colour to discussion on it. One which will ultimately lead nowhere and will probably cause more infections and more deaths.