Malaysia is perched on the edge of an HIV/AIDS epidemic and to curb the spread of the terrifying disease, the government is going ahead with a radical programme to distribute free condoms and syringes to drug addicts, despite criticism and opposition from several groups.
The pilot programme was swiftly drawn up following the warning from the World Health Organisation, which disclosed in its UN AIDS/WHO Report on the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic 2004 that Malaysia was at the initial stage of an HIV epidemic.
According to the Health Ministry, nearly 65,000 people have been diagnosed with HIV since 1996 and, if left unchecked, the number is expected to increase to 300,000 in a few years’ time. Drug use lies behind the bulk of the HIV/AIDS cases in Malaysia, hence the free condom and needle programme.
Three Christian leaders share their views about the programme.
“I think the abstinence education element should have greater emphasis than the distribution of
free needles and condoms.”
– Lee Wee Min |
“Whatever our moral position, we have to respond to this crisis to minimise the spread.” – Ng Kam Weng |
“...the number of rehab centres is just a drop in the ocean compared to the hundreds of thousands of drug addicts.”
– Pax Tan |
Lee Wee Min
Executive Director
Focus on the Family
"I am appreciative of the government’s efforts in trying to address the worsening AIDS situation, of which the majority of cases have been caused by the sharing of needles.
I commend the positive intention but I am uncertain about the impact. It is indeed a noble and positive effort to try to protect the innocent party from contracting the AIDS virus by giving out free needles and condom, but I feel this approach also propagates promiscuous sexual activities.
While it is a ‘chicken or egg’ situation, I would prefer a more proactive approach based on abstinence education because abstinence works every time. At the same time, there is a need to counsel and coach infected individuals who have the virus and, where necessary, provide them condoms and needles.
However, we must bear in mind that even when condoms are available, decisions on using them can be highly arbitrary. I think the abstinence education element should have greater emphasis than the distribution of free needles and condoms."
Ng Kam Weng
Research Director
Kairos Research Centre
“Firstly, we must distinguish between our context and the Western context, which is premised on freedom of choice and the necessity to safeguard public health. Our approach should take into account compassion and education without compromising our moral values.
Abstinence is still the best Christian response to the AIDS situation; it should be the moral choice for Christians. But we are not addressing Christians alone. We have to recognise that it is unrealistic to expect people to follow the choice of abstinence. Because of this, we have to address the health risk these people pose to society.
The World Health Organisation has warned against an AIDS crisis. Let us not be judgemental but let us respond to the potentially explosive situation at hand. Whatever our moral position, we have to respond to this crisis to minimise the spread. In this context, we are willing to consider a controlled distribution of condoms and needles, but they must not be distributed indiscriminately.
In giving out free condoms, we must be cautious about giving them in the name of safe sex. Safe sex is just a cover-up for immoral sex. But where the poor are concerned, offering them free condoms is the right approach, so as to protect their wives, who are the innocent parties.
Needless to say, counselling should accompany free condoms. In the West, or in places where poverty is not an issue, giving out free condoms will only send moral weaknesses and sources rather than just treat the symptoms.”
Pax Tan
Senior Director of Prison, Drugs and AIDS, Malaysian Care
“The government’s move is a special response to a special situation, which has reached an alarming stage. The primary thing is to arrest the virus from spreading, and the government’s radical approach is a practical way of dealing with the problem.
 In theory, abstinence and rehabilitation are the best approach to stopping the virus spread. Don’t take drugs, don’t have sex. But in practice, this is unreal. That 76 percent of the drug addicts are intravenous drug users (IDUs) indicate how the virus spreads, and that is through the sharing of needles. Needles are scarce because by law, we need a prescription to get a needle.
And most IDUs, because of their compelling need, will inject themselves wherever they are, even if they are undergoing rehabilitation in a rehab centre. True, the best solution and Christian approach is rehabilitation but the number of rehab centres is just a drop in the ocean compared to the hundreds of thousands of drug addicts.
Given the circumstances and the dilemma we’re in, the Health Ministry has seemingly no alternative but to go ahead with this to stem the spread.
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