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AIDS Council
rejects compulsory
HIV screening
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian AIDS Council is against
mandatory pre-marital HIV screening for all Muslim
couples from next year, saying it would will further
make HIV a disease to be feared and stigmatised and
thus discourage individuals, especially those at risk
of infection, from coming forward to be voluntarily
tested.
It said while the pre-marital testing policy, meant
to curb the rise in infections, would make HIV
testing more broadly available and worthy of praise,
the MAC could not support a move to remove the
voluntary nature of the tests.
“We would like to once again reiterate that manda-
tory testing all Muslim couples before marriage is
not the solution,” its president Professor Dr Adeeba
Kamarulzaman said in a statement.
She gave four social and medical reasons for the
council’s position:
» pre-marital testing is a one-off test while the
risk of acquiring HIV is potentially life long. A negative
test before marriage does not guarantee that the
individual or his/her partner will remain negative
thereafter if the person continues to put him or herself
at risk of HIV through their sexual activities or injecting
drug use. A negative HIV result at the time of marriage
may lead to a false sense of security in both parties
throughout the marriage.
» mandatory HIV testing has been shown to have
a limited impact in controlling the spread of HIV infec-
tion without specific interventions being undertaken
to prevent transmission of these infections.
» it is highly unlikely that the confidentiality of the
test results can be guaranteed. Because of the high
level of stigma and discrimination that exist against
HIV positive individuals, those diagnosed with HIV and
their families are frequently rejected and ostracised
within the community they live.
» Disclosure of a positive HIV result must be
followed up with proper counselling. It fears that those
charged with implementing this policy nationwide,
including the religious officers, and even health care
workers have been adequately trained and prepared
for this task.
In Johor Baru yesterday, Health Minister Datuk
Liow Tiong Lai said the compulsory screening was
not meant to stop Muslim couples from marrying, but
to ascertain their health standard. He said that with
80,938 HIV cases recorded until last year, the move
was necessary to prevent its spread.
» Full report Page 6
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» Getting to know Yan pg25 Entertainment
Nothing to hide
TEE KEAT: ACA AND PAC WELCOME TO INVESTIGATE PKFZ DEAL
by Tim Leonard PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) is expected controversies surrounding the project as a
newsdesk@thesundaily.com to be completed in a few weeks. “headache”, Ong also said the interest of 4%
“The ACA and PAC are at full liberty to on the loan was a burden.
PORT KLANG: The Transport Ministry pursue this matter (possible irregularities) “When people talk about the RM4.6
welcomes any investigation by the Anti- with the fullest cooperation from the billion, they think all the money has been
Corruption Agency or the Public Accounts Transport Ministry and Port Klang Authority spent, but that’s not the case. PKFZ has repaid
Committee into any possible “irregularities” (PKA),” Ong said when asked to comment on some RM1.378 billion as of this year,” he
behind the controversial Port Klang Free the controversial land transaction between revealed.
Zone (PKFZ) project. the ministry and Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd to Ong showed statistics of PKFZ’s
Its minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat develop PKFZ. impressive rate of attracting investments and
said the ministry will fully co-operate The land deal was concluded at RM25 occupants over the past eight months.
with investigators if the need arose. “We per square foot while the original cost was Total number of investment inflow rose
are committed to transparency ... we have pegged at RM10 psf. by 30% or RM200 million, occupancy rates
nothing to hide,” he said after revealing the He said some questions on the land rose 41% for its open land, 183% for light
first part of a probe by the ministry on PKFZ, transaction could be answered by only his industrial units and 1,274% for leased office
which was “rescued” via RM4.6 billion predecessors Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and Tan block, the report showed.
in government loans. Sri Chan Kong Choy. Ong said PKFZ was on track towards
The report Ong said the ministry was concerned over achieving 80% total occupancy within
comprised a how the land deal was transacted because the next five years. “PKFZ employs 1,659
chronology of it was of national interest. “If you ask me Malaysians and foreigners, a significant jump
events and personally, I might not have done it,” he said, from 972 in March,” he said.
statistics when pressed to comment further. Total cargo movement at PKFZ jumped
on PKFZ’s “But I don’t want to jump the gun until 495% (containers) and 307% (non-containers)
performance. the financial probe by PWC is since last year.
The much- completed.” Ong said PKFZ’s performance increased
awaited Describing significantly following the exit of Jebel
independent the Ali Free Zone, a Dubai-based and leading
financial world free zone operator which was
audit by managing the concession for PKFZ.
“I think PKFZ has done considerably
well after the change of guards,” he said.
PKFZ executive chairman Lim Thean
Shang, who was present, said from his
reading of the four controversial letters,
which many regarded as government
guarantees for the project, “the letters
confirm the contract but they are not
letters of guarantee”.
“So the second question of whether
the minister had authority to issue
guarantee letters does not arise here,”
he said.
The letters of support, one signed by
Transparent ... Ong with the Ling and three by Chan, issued to Kuala
Port Klang Free Zone report Dimensi – PKFZ’s turnkey contractor
during the press conference – to raise RM4 billion bonds were regarded
yesterday. as government guarantees by the market
and questions were raised as to whether the
minister had the authority to issue financial
guarantees.