For long, the world at large believed that Malaysia is a caring country. There was no interplay of 'politics' in reflecting our true caring nature for one another. The spirit of muhibbah can only prevail if everyone respects one another's basic human rights.

Recently, however, that spirit of unity and harmony came under threat, no thanks to the irresponsible thinking of the Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria who said HIV/Aids and bird flu carriers should be isolated on an island to ensure they do not infect others.

He made the suggestion on April 21 during the Prophet Muhammad's birthday celebration in Perak, which was attended by 2,000 people.

The 'learned' mufti rationalised that isolation or quarantine which was at one time imposed on leprosy and tuberculosis (TB) patients would be the best way to stop any dangerous disease from threatening the public. He went on to say that quarantine was imposed on Madinah at a time when there was an outbreak of cholera.

Harussani's understanding of the HIV/Aids issue leaves much to be desired. His 'cold turkey' approach to helping people living with HIV/Aids (PLWHAs) only reflects his couldn't-care less attitude towards the plight of PLWHAs.

Taking the easy way out by creating a 'dumping ground' for those with HIV/Aids is certainly not the order of any true religion, what more when it comes to following the precept of 'love thy neighbour'. Is ostracisation of people from the community something that mufti like Harussani sincerely believe a part of good religious practice?

If after 17 years (when the first case of HIV infection was detected in Malaysia), suggestions like that of Harussani's are deemed the best way of dealing with the HIV/Aids issue, then sadly we have not arrived at all, in our understanding of this disease and the holistic way of dealing with it.

Harussani's suggestion is a clear reflection of his ignorance as well as arrogance in respecting the human rights of individuals, irrespective of their health status.

Since Harussani is aware that his statement on isolating PLWHAs on an island has been criticised as inhumane, it would only be befitting for this man of religion to reflect on and question his motive in condemning those with HIV/Aids to 'death'.

Absence of empathy

It is no exaggeration so say that Harussani' suggestion smacks of his own selfishness in wanting to promote his own safety through the exit of PLWHAs from our community. His inability to accept people regardless of their health condition reflects pitifully on his role as a leader of the religion.

As a so-called learned man, he should know better that PLWHAs require compassion or ihsan and not condemnation. Instead of playing judge, jury and executioner, Harussani should employ compassion, if he has any, in his thoughts and in his ability to love all human beings, irrespective of whether they have TB, HIV/Aids or are disabled.

If putting PLWHAs away on an island is his idea of keeping Malaysia safe from this disease, he sadly has got it all wrong. His suggestion reflects poorly on his bearing as a 'leader' and only goes to show how deeply shallow people in his position can be showing empathy for those suffering from terminal illness like HIV/Aids.

Perhaps Harussani is afraid he is fading out of the limelight, and hence his cheap ploy in making ridiculous suggestions like that in the case of isolating PLWHAS, hoping he will remain longer in the glare of publicity.

As the situation stands, getting those with HIV/Aids to come out and seek assistance has been a arduous task. Their fear of being discriminated and stigmatised is certainly very real, what more with the likes of Harussani living in our midst.

Until and unless preachers like Harussani mend their mentality in not being judgmental towards PLWHAs, we can offer little hope that discrimination is not the 'policy' adopted by caring Malaysians.

Stop the labelling

Malaysian Aids Council president Marina Mahathir has time and again lamented that the country lacks a national strategy to fight Aids. This should be Harussani's concern, not the creation of a 'colony of PLWHAs'.

Harussani could help educate the public to empower themselves by disseminating correct information. There must be a breakthrough in helping PLWHAs muster the courage to come out and not hide behind the cloak of fear. Instead, the Perak mufti has painfully displayed his short-sightedness in helping to tackle the issue of HIV/Aids.

The health ministry's statistics in 2003 revealed that intravenous drug users accounted for about 70 percent (or 6, 756 infections). This trend has declined over the years, with the rate of heterosexuals transmission having gradually increased.

Malaysia's reported cases of HIV/Aids last year stood at 57,000, an increase of 3,000 cases from the previous year. Drug addicts sharing infected needles made up nearly 80 percent of the cases, while heterosexual transmission was the second highest, at 12 percent.

However, the real number of HIV/Aids is said to be more than twice the official figure as many PLWHAs refuse to report their status for fear of being discriminated and ostracised in a Muslim country like Malaysia.

Is Harussani perturbed by these figures? Is his fear based on personal prejudice towards PLWHAs or is it a reflection of his zero ability to fathom the true magnitude behind the HIV/Aids pandemic?

If there is a conclusion that can be drawn from Harussani's suggestion, it is that there is that urgent need to change bigoted views held by religious officials by educating them in practising compassion towards every living thing.

There should be no exemptions under any circumstances whatsoever in showing that we care.

JJ RAY started her career with a mainstream publication. A non-conformist, she soon saw the barriers that went up whenever, through her writing, she tried to make the world a home for one and all.