Tuesday December 23, 2008
Mandatory testing is primitive, says Chang
IPOH: Primitive and unacceptable. That’s Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn’s reaction to a suggestion by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin to ban marriages and impose quarantine on HIV carriers.
Chang said those infected must be treated as human beings and not ostracised.
“It would only alienate them from society and push them to keep their problem a secret,” he said in a statement.
“The suggestion by the Perak Mentri Besar only shows his ignorance and failure to understand the disease,” said Chang, who is Perak Gerakan chief.
Nizar had reportedly said that Muslim couples should not marry if one or both of them were HIV-positive as it would be unfair to themselves and to their child if they decided to have one.
Commenting on pre-marital HIV screening, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said it should not be made mandatory.
“It gives people a false sense of security. You could be infected today, do the test and nothing happens. It doesn’t mean you don’t have HIV.
“It also infringes on human rights. There should not be any force involved in testing,” he told reporters after attending a karaoke contest here on Sunday.
Dr Chua, the former Health Minister, said the best way to prevent HIV infection was through education, dissemination of information and doing the screening voluntarily.
In Kuantan, Tengku Mahkota Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said the screening should be done in the interest of all would-be couples.
“It should not be limited to Muslims, but be practised by anyone intending to get married.
“It should be seen in a positive perspective as it is in the interest of everyone. So, why not?” said Tengku Abdullah who is the Pahang Islamic Affairs and Malay Customs Council president.
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