Homosexuality is not one of the reasons why HIV/Aids is so widespread in Malaysia. Yes, it was the factor back in the 80s when the disease first surfaced here but two decades later HIV/Aids is no longer a curse from homosexuals.

The prevalence of this disease today is due to two major factors; sharing of needles between drug users and the spread of the virus by philandering husbands to their wives. To take the easy way out and conveniently dump the blame on homosexuals as one of the reasons why this incurable disease is so widespread as recently done by the Malaysian Aids Council (MAC) is not going to help improve ailing matters.

MAC president Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman's remark that the issue of HIV/Aids can be tackled with the help of the government seems incredulous as she should be well aware that this disease no longer stands as a homosexual-only issue. And the fact that homosexuality is crime in Malaysia has not made it easy for this issue to be tackled effectively.

It is really disheartening to see that MAC itself has little understanding of what are the causes of HIV/Aids, bearing in mind the present day reality. One wonders why the gap as mentioned by Adeeba had not been addressed or narrowed by the council previously.

If Malaysians have yet to realise the causes of HIV/Aids then it is truly worrying because this disease has been around in the country for more than 20 years now. What has MAC been doing all these years if it had not been educating the layman on the dangers of HIV/Aids?

And if Adeeba's statement is taken at face value, it then also speaks of MAC's failure in raising awareness among the public on what causes HIV/Aids and its perils. Perhaps instead of blaming the homosexuals for the problem, it would do MAC good if it can play its role effectively in sending the message to the people on this disease.

No place for moral judgements

PT (formerly Pink Triangle) Foundation's Raymond Tai who oversees its HIV/Aids Outreach programme in a reply to Adeeba's accusation said in a statement that the foundation supports Adeeba's call for an open and thorough discussion on sexuality issues to ensure that the issues can be dealt with effectively in Malaysia.

PT Foundation is a grassroots, community-based, non-governmental organisation (NGO) working with sexual minorities in Malaysia on HIV/Aids issues. It has an in-depth understanding of the issues, needs and challenges endured by these communities and is only too glad to share its insights with the MAC, together with the Health Ministry and other relevant ministries.

Tai said that data on HIV/Aids transmission obtained from the Health Ministry and as compiled by MAC showed that HIV/Aids transmission is due to unprotected homosexual sex in Malaysia last year was less than 1% of the total cumulative figure.

If that being the case, then the remark concerning homosexuals by Adeeba was truly uncalled for.

It is also necessary as Tai pointed out that an honest assessment of the prevalence of men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) practices in Malaysia is needed. He said the prejudice and stigma faced by MSM individuals was likely to result in under-reporting of HIV/Aids transmission via homosexual sex.

Tai said more importantly, MSM population is not an exclusive population, separated from the mainstream population. PT Foundation's observation has shown that many individuals are non-gay identified; many are married with families.

He added that if this gay community is ignored and not addressed in the HIV/Aids context, the implication this would have on the epidemiology of this disease is grave. The foundation calls for the drafting and implementation of a holistic action plan for HIV/Aids prevention as well as education campaigns which take into consideration the needs and issues of MSM.

Tai hit home when he said that in doing so, government officials must be careful not to be judgmental and moralistic, as these are ingredients to the failure of HIV/Aids intervention programmes.

He said:"MSM is a universally prevalent behaviour in all societies, races and cultures, whether we like it or not. The United Nations has well documented sexually transmitted HIV/Aids prevention strategies that have been implemented by both developed and developing countries.

"We need to be open and willing to learn from countries with successful records. Time and time again it has been emphasised that it is what you do that matters, not what you are!"

Tai had every reason to lament when he said that Malaysia was very far behind in implementing effective HIV/Aids prevention programmes.

He said:"Malaysia is only now starting to introduce pilot programmes targeted at drug users, programmes that the United Nations Programme on Aids (UNAIDS), MAC and PT Foundation have been lobbying for more than a decade ago. Let us not wait for another decade to introduce workable prevention programmes to reduce the incidence of HIV/Aids through sexual transmission.

"The time to act is now, before the HIV/Aids epidemic in Malaysia climbs past the 100,000 mark and worse still, before our own families get infected before we start doing something. The MAC must initiate a dialogue among the relevant ministries and NGOs, and get comprehensive prevention messages out fast, loud and effectively."

Living in ignorance

HIV/Aids not just a demographical issue. It should also be kept in mind that HIV/Aids is not an issue affecting only the urban folks. It also has surfaced in rural and border areas. However, it is still an urban issue and the reality is that many urban folks are still living in ignorance where this disease is concerned. They should remember that when it comes to HIV/Aids ignorance is no bliss at all.

Shifting the blame on homosexuals does not make solving the problem of HIV/Aids any easier. If anything it is a gross injustice to this minority community to be accused.

Adeeba should know fully well the perception the general Malaysian has of homosexuals. It will be good if she could clarify what MAC's stand on this group of minority is - does MAC condemn homosexuals or does it feel otherwise?

It is known to everyone that there are other ways people can get infected with the Aids virus. Malaysia's denial about the issue of HIV/Aids back home is also not helping improve matters. The fact that this disease is now affecting the younger age group is a signal that more outreach campaigns must be carried out to educate especially the youngsters on the topic of safe sex.

Should Malaysia be serious in tackling the issue of HIV/Aids and halting its spread, then it only stands to benefit the country to re-look its policies and ask whether they are really aimed at curbing the spread of this disease.

The newly appointed patron of Malaysian Aids Foundation, Rosmah Mansor recently stated that 6,120 new HIV cases were reported last year, with an average of 19 new cases daily in Malaysia. She added that about 700 of the new cases involved women and although it seemed a small figure, it was an acute increase from three in 1989 and 380 in 1999.

Rosmah cautioned that if the public was not carefully and diligently educated about the dangers of HIV/Aids as many as 300,000 Malaysians might be infected with the virus by 2015, a mere nine years away!

Do not therefore blame the homosexuals as one of the reasons why HIV/Aids is so widespread. The blame honestly lies with the government for failing to educate the people on the actual causes.


Letter to the Editor: MAC did not blame gay community

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.