Beowulf

defies
l a b e l s >14

Wednesday
28 NOVEMBER
2007
thestar.com.my/lifestyle

MIND OUR ENGLISH:

Going on a wild
goose chase >13

ENTERTAINMENT:

New spin on The

Slave Princess >16

Moving
on
In conjunction with World
AIDS Day on Dec 1, HIV+
youngsters talk about how
their infection has given them
a new lease on life. <2-3

YOUTH

T2

STARTWO, WEDNESDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2007

YOUTH

Pit stop heroes

Meet the unsung heroes of the
A1 GP World Cup Race. >4

HEALTH

A head start
Mental stimulation, a brainhealthy diet, and social activity
can help to keep Alzheimers
disease at bay. >10

ZIYINGS BRUSH

Confucius says
Ziying visits the birthplace of
Confucius and ponders the
masters teachings. >12

MOVIES

The great debate

Beowulf stirs debate within the
film industry over what
qualifies as animation. >14

ENTERTAINMENT

Middle
Eastern
touch
Malaysian
ballet
production
The Slave
Princess
returns with
a subtle
Middle
Eastern
flavour. >16

StarTwo

EDITOR: Tan Gim Ean

CONTACT
email: startwo@thestar.com.my
tel: 03-7967 1388
fax: 03-7955 4039
ADVERTISING:
Janet Khaw
janet@thestar.com.my
(03) 7966-8221
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peterhoe@thestar.com.my
(03) 7966-8236
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jean@thestar.com.my
(03) 7966-8224

EDITOR: IVY SOON / youth2@thestar.com.my / 03-7967 1693

Staying optimistic
Affordable treatment
and strong support have
enabled HIV+ youngsters
to continue living
positively.

Unlike Jamie, Ikas initial support

came in the form of understanding
doctors and nurses at Hospital
Stories by NIKI CHEONG
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
niki@thestar.com.my
(HUKM), a far cry from her early
experience at another hospital late last
year.
AMIE was not too worried when he had to
The distress of finding out that they
take blood tests during a medical check up
are HIV+ was worsened by the doctors
for a new job. But when he was diagnosed
judgmental attitude.
as HIV+, he knew exactly how he had gotten
It was a difficult time, and we were
infected. Although he has always taken precaushocked. I fainted right there. The doctions to protect himself from sexually transmittor told us that we were HIV+ in front of
ted diseases, the 25-year-old executive had on
everyone, and said we were useless
occasions thrown caution to the wind.
people.
All the while, I have been cautious. But in the
We were embarrassed, sad. Rasa diri
heat of the moment, these things are just not on
macam sampah (We felt like trash).
your mind, recounts Jamie, who was intent on
Fortunately, Ika had the sense to disclimbing the corporate ladder then.
Like many youths who have had some form of charge her husband from the hospital,
Being HIV+ is not a hindrance to living life to the
and seek treatment in HUKM. After all fullest.
HIV/AIDS education, Jamie was aware of how
that, we didnt expect the doctors (in
HIV is transmitted. Knowledge, however, does
to myself, refusing to socialise, she explains.
Kuala Lumpur) to treat us so well. We were
not always translate into behavioural change.
But now, I have made tons of friends, and Im
referred to another hospital later where we also
Housewife Ika was less cautious. Even though
enjoying their company. While I think about it
received counselling. From there, we learned to
she found most of the information of HIV/AIDS
raise our spirits again, Ika said. Ive learnt to be every day, and cry often, it has also taught me
she had previously come across scary as it dealt
new meanings of happiness.
strong, and to pray to God.
with death, Ika was indifferent to the risks of
Looking back at the past year, Jamie has disIka considers her infection a blessing in disbeing infected.
covered that being HIV+ is not a hindrance to
guise.
I was young and just wanted to have fun,
living life fully.
God is almighty, she says. He has made me
she says. The 24-year-old Ika had left school at
Im not on medication yet, so Im not feeling
aware that life is precious, and that I should
Form 3, and started working to help support her
the side effects that some people I know are, he
savour every moment of it.
family. She has been married for five years and
says. But for the moment, Im living a normal
Ika was ill for a couple for years
her husband is also HIV+ but they are
life. To be frank, Im still me ... Im still as hyperbefore she was finally diagunsure of how they were
active as I used to be!
nosed as HIV+. Her poor
infected.
Nevertheless, he has had to adapt to a new
health led to depression
Ika, her husband and
life, and make changes to his future plans. Jamie,
and isolation, espeJamie were among the
however, remains optimistic.
cially when doctors
1,600 people,
I used to be very focused on my work,
did not seem able
between the ages of
wanting to work my way up the corporate
to heal her.
20 and 29, who
ladder. I was working overseas and was hoping
I was so sick
were newly diagto leverage on the exchange rate to make some
for months at a
nosed with HIV
extra money for investment so that I could save
time that I felt
last year. That
up enough to further my studies, Jamie
like a disabled
means about four
person. After that, explains.
young Malaysians
Now that I am back in KL, of course things
I just wanted to
contracted HIV each
are different. Im not making as much money as
stay home and kept
day last year.
I used to but that isnt going to stop me
When Jamie first
from pursuing my dream of studying
learned about his HIV
more.
status, he felt his whole
Besides that, Jamie has also made some
world crumbling.
lifestyle changes.
At first, I thought I was going to
People learn from stress and illness,
die soon, he said. Then, support set in.
some change for the worse, others for the
These days, with affordable medication
better, he shares. I used to go out a lot
and support, HIV is no longer an instant
but Ive learnt to be more disciplined. I do
death sentence. Unlike in the early days of
more exercise and am more responsible.
the HIV/AIDS epidemic, medication is
Being infected was a turning point ... I
now free for first line regimes in public
have a more balanced perspective on life.
hospitals, and support and counselling are
Although Ika has come to terms with
offered by the hospitals and local nonbeing HIV+, she cannot help but lament
governmental organisations.
about not being able to have children.
After his diagnosis, Jamie attended an
With medication, HIV+ pregnant women
event organised by an NGO where he
can greatly reduce the possibility of
met someone who has been HIV+ for 20
passing their infection to their baby. But
years and realised that there was still
Ika is not willing to take the risk of giving
hope for him. He also attended a workbirth to an HIV+ child.
shop by an ex-volunteer of the PT
Im crushed every time I think about it
Foundation, an NGO which deals with
and I do think about it a lot but what
HIV/AIDS.
can you do? she asks.
He received support on the personal
There would be more suffering if we
front too. His best friend was shocked
have a child and he or she is infected,
when he first found out that Jamie was
both for us and the baby.
HIV+, but he remained close to Jamie.
Ika also lives each day savouring every
He also has the support and undermoment she has with her husband.
standing of his partner of four years,
I wont say that Ive never thought
whom he has been dating even before he
about it before, about how our lives
was diagnosed as HIV+.
would be if something happened to the
Jamie also chose to educate himself
other.
about HIV/AIDS.
Now, I think about it more often. But
I collected information, and learned
going through this together has improved
how to overcome my fears, Jamie relatour relationship with each other and
ed. And now that treatment is available,
were both determined to cherish every
Im able to live a normal fulfilling, happy
Im living a normal life ... Im still as hyperactive as I used
moment we have left together, says Ika.
life.
to be, says Jamie, who is HIV+.

YOUTH

T3

GRAPHICS 2007

STARTWO, WEDNESDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2007

SITTING on a bench at KL Sentral chatting,

Salleh and Lina passed off as two regular
teenagers on a date. He was dressed in a
simple T-shirt and jeans, while she had on a
long-sleeved blouse, which matched her
tudung.
However, when approached, Salleh just
introduced Lina as a friend who was there
with him for moral support. This was the
first time Salleh, 22, was speaking to the
press, and he was noticeably nervous, and
cautious. Salleh may just be like your
average university student except that he
has a secret he is HIV+.
It was only when he fell ill in November
last year did Salleh find out about his HIV
status. After suffering through three weeks
of persistent fever, the young man was
admitted into a public hospital. But even
after all the relevant tests were performed,
the doctors could not pinpoint what was
wrong with him.
That was when I was referred to the ID
(infectious diseases) team, Salleh said.
Naturally, this led to more tests and the
results showed that he was HIV+.
In the beginning, I couldnt accept it,
Salleh recalls. Kenapa jadi macam ni? (Why
did this happen to me?) After all, in his
mind, he was just your average youngster,
who came to Kuala Lumpur to study.
I was upset, and angry.
But soon, with the support of his sister

Living a full life

and a small number of close friends, he
realised that there is more to life than
wallowing in self-pity.
My friends advised me. They said,
Its not the end of your life. Be patient,
he said. Now, almost one year later,
Salleh has moved on in life, and cant
wait to finish his studies.
His only worry is that he will be
unable to get a job when he graduates.
I dont know what is the procedure for people like me, he says. I
am scared that I cant find a job, it
might be difficult.
But for now, his studies come
first. If there is one thing being
infected has taught him, it is to take
Random fa
ces: Just a
each day as it comes and live life to the
bout anyon
e walking b
fullest.
y you could
be HIV+.
Sekarang, cuba tak nak fikir dulu lah
a mere friend they had recently started
(for now, I dont want to think about
dating.
work).
Yes, she knows about my status, tapi
the end of my life.
That day, Salleh exuded optimism. This
dia boleh terima (but she can accept it),
I am happy now. I am better than better
could also perhaps be attributed to the fact
he explained. She said she doesnt care,
because I have someone jaga (taking care of)
that he is in love. Towards the end of
as long as she can be with me ... until
me. I now have a purpose in life.
interview, he finally let on that Lina was not

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