6 œ theSun | MONDAY DECEMBER 1 2008

news without borders

Mandatory pre-marital AIDS Ministry

test for couples slammed
by Rathi Ramanathan
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: AIDS organisations
have denounced mandatory pre-
marital HIV and AIDS tests for
Muslim couples, viewing it as both
discriminatory and a violation of
human rights.
On Oct 8, Islamic Development
Department (Jakim) director-general
Datuk Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul
Aziz was reported as saying that all
state religious authorities had agreed
at a meeting in July to enforce the
ruling. He said the nationwide policy
will come into force in January 2009.
Malaysian AIDS Council president
Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, in a
statement in conjunction with World
AIDS Day, described as “alarming”
Jakim’s announcement to make
pre-marital HIV tests mandatory for all
Muslims in Malaysia.
While stepping up HIV testing and
counselling services is critical for HIV
prevention, treatment and support,
the manner in which this is done is
important, she said.
“Women’s NGOs, the Ministry of
Health and the Malaysian Medical
Association denounced the policy
when it was first introduced by the
state of Johor in 2001. Despite the
move to further implement this
policy nationwide, there have been
no attempts to involve or consult any
individuals and organisations working
on HIV and issues affecting women.
“HIV is a public health issue to be
addressed by the health sector,” said
Adeeba.
Jakim has assured the public that
those tested positive for HIV would be
allowed to continue with the marriage
if both partners agree to receive
counselling and advice on preventive
measures. Lela Mokhtar, committee
member of Malaysian Positive
Network (myPlus), a national network
for people living with HIV, said when
the policy was introduced in 2001,
neither the Johor state government nor
Jakim conducted studies to monitor its
impact on people living with HIV and
their families, especially women.
Rathi Ramanathan is programme
officer, Asia Pacific Council of AIDS
Service Organisations (APCASO)
to probe
‘growth
enhancer’
MIER: Adopt
policy of
claims
pg 8 stable fuel
prices
by Karen Arukesamy
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
Participants PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Institute of Eco-
of the “Mini nomic Research (MIER) has advocated a policy
Ride For of stable fuel prices as the current situation of
Life” hold a fluctuating prices has made expenditure planning
banner in extremely difficult for consumers.
conjunction Its executive director, Prof Datuk Mohamed
with World Ariff Abdul Kareem, said the government should
AIDS Day have a stable price policy in fuel pricing instead of
2008. adopting a floor price or float pricing system.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minis-
ter Datuk Shahrir Samad had said on Nov 24 the
government will discuss whether to implement
a floor price for petrol and diesel or maintain the
flotation mechanism based on market rates.
The Economic Council will meet today to
discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
both mechanisms.
“To stabilise oil price, one needs to determine
the ‘average’ price and maintain it regardless of
international movements for as long as possible,”
Mohamed Arif told theSun.
He said economic efficiency demands that
prices consumers pay reflect the international
market price.
“The efficient way to manage the fuel price,
therefore, is to follow the international market
price, provided that fuel price is not excessively
volatile,” he said.
“However, oil prices today are unstable, which
makes expenditure planning difficult for consum-
ers. The people want stability and certainty.
“For example, if the average (fuel price) is

Keep your promise, govt told
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian AIDS
Council (MAC) has called on policy-makers
and regional health authorities to ensure
they meet the targets that have been set in
the fight against HIV and AIDS, including the
promise of universal access to treatment and
prevention services.
At a media briefing after the launch of
World AIDS Day 2008 themed ‘Stop AIDS:
Keep the Promise’ at Berjaya Times Square
yesterday, MAC president Prof Dr Adeeba
Kamarulzaman Adeeba said despite current
efforts, there is still a need for stronger
advocacy on the issue of HIV/AIDS.
“We can try and do the best we can as
an NGO, but the role of the government
is important ... It needs legislation,
education and we need your help to work
together,” she said.
National Institute of Occupational
Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who was also
present, agreed with Adeeba, saying the
lawmakers have an equally important
role in addressing the issue in parliament.
The celebration kicked off at 7am with
a “Mini Ride for Life”, where participants
cycled for 30km around the Golden
Triangle. This was followed by several
performances by local groups and artistes.
An interactive exhibition was
organised by World Vision Malaysia to
raise awareness of the effects of AIDS on
children. It will remain open until 10pm
today. Admission is free.
RM2 per litre, effort must be made to maintain it,
even if the international price were to fall to, say,
RM1.50 or conversely rise to say RM2.50.”
This amounts to taxing the consumers 50 sen
in the first case and subsidising them 50 sen in
the second.
He said the savings in the former instance will
be used as subsidy in the second.
Thus, he said, short-term fluctuations can
be ironed out without heavy budgetary burden,
provided international price fluctuations are not
too wild.
“If the savings in the low-price period is not
sufficient to offset price increases in another pe-
riod, the average price may have to be adjusted
upward,” Mohamed Ariff said.
Meanwhile, MCA is all for an auto floating
mechanism in petrol pump pricing.
Its Information and Communication Bureau
chief Lee Wei Kiat said in a statement the party
is “objecting” to the floor price fixing “as it does
not promote transparency and consistency in
government policies”.
“MCA recognises the interest of the public
and has always maintained that the economic
sectors should be liberalised and an auto floating
mechanism should be implemented,” he said.
“ It will provide an optimum price for motor-
ists and, at the same time, the government will
be able to monitor the mechanism in an open
and transparent manner.”

Putting Chow Kit

back on the map
KUALA LUMPUR: Chow Kit and its surrounding
areas in the city will be given a new lease of life to
attract shoppers and tourists back to the place.
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Zul-
hasnan Rafique said that to realise the goal, his
ministry had embarked on an action plan to “put
back Chow Kit on the map”.
Chow Kit, with its myriad shops, food and
hawker outlets, used to be a tourist and shop-
ping haven but, of late, appears to have lost its
lustre.
Zulhasnan, who launched the action plan in
the area yesterday, told reporters that among its
focus would be ridding the place of drug addicts,
unlicensed hawkers, illegal immigrants, vice dens,
beggars and vagrants and combating the high
crime rate there.
The other aspects included emphasis on
cleanliness and ensuring structured and system-
atic trade. –Bernama