The Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has shot down a government proposal for mandatory HIV/Aids screening for Muslim couples intending to get married.

In a statement yesterday, Suhakam commissioner Dr Denison Jayasooria said compulsory screening without consent and the guarantee of confidentiality should not be encouraged as it violated human rights.

He reminded the government that both the Joint UN Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAids) and the World Health Organisation have encouraged confidentiality and consent as two main criteria for conducting HIV/Aids screening.

Furthermore, he said any programme and policy formulated to control the spread of HIV/Aids should be implemented to all and not limited to specific groups, in line with human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination.

"In this light, Suhakam strongly recommends that any HIV/Aids testing be conducted in ways that do not infringe human rights and be accompanied with counselling and referral to medical services, especially for those who have tested positive," he added.

Already implemented?

The proposal, mooted by the cabinet committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on Thursday, has been approved by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).

According to Jakim, such tests had already been carried out on Muslim couples in seven states - Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak, Perlis, Johor, Malacca and Selangor.

Malaysian Aids Council president Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman said the government must be prepared to help victims cope with the infection of HIV should they be tested positive.

"Yes, people need to know their status, but they also need to know how to handle it," she was quoted as saying in a news report.