Referring to the recent NST article "It's jail, rotan now for raping your wife" (14/09/07), I must say that I don't agree with the headline or premise that the recent Penal Code amendment has actually made it possible to punish perpetrators who rape their wives. Based on the report and what I've read thus far regarding this development, it appears that the amendment merely recognises that a man may use physical and violent force in compelling his wife to have sexual intercourse. It does not necessarily recognise and criminalise marital rape as such whereupon it is possible for a wife to not consent to having sex but is later forced by her husband into doing so. It does not appear to anticipate that physical intimidation could be uttered but not carried out or that threats of 'talak' (divorce) and accussations of 'nusyuz' (disobedient or traitorous wife) could be used to ensure compliance. Rape is forced sex regardless of whether it occurs within marriage or without. The use of physical violence is a separate issue and is punishable under existing law. Marital rape should be recognised clearly and definitively as such.
Laws which punish the use of physical violence and assault should already be a given in any circumstance whether one is married or not. Marital rape needs to be clearly defined, recognised and criminalised both under the Penal Code and Syariah Law.
Saturday, 15 September 2007
Friday, 14 September 2007
It's jail, rotan now for raping your wife
New Straits Times (14/09/07)
KUALA LUMPUR: Beating one’s wife into having sex can now land a man in serious trouble.
The punishment is a jail sentence of up to 20 years and whipping. This penalty is provided in an amendment on rape in the Penal Code which came into effect last Friday.
An example would be when the husband refuses to take "no" for an answer and then proceeds to slap or punch his wife into submission.
The amendment has classified rape and aggravated rape and each category carries different penalties.
Aggravated rape will include having sex with a girl aged below 12 and those found guilty could be sentenced up to 30 years and whipped.
The definition of rape has also been extended to cover the sexual exploitation of women by people in authority as in the case of a medicine man taking advantage of women seeking treatment.
Snatch theft has been reclassified as robbery and the perpetrator now faces up to 14 years in jail.
The maximum sentence for this offence was seven years in prison.
In July last year, parliament passed amendments to the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) after a parliamentary select committee obtained feedback from the public and after visiting several Commonwealth countries to study their laws.
Changes to the CPC provide better rights for arrested persons. They include:
• Informing detainees of the grounds for their arrest as soon as possible and allowing them to inform their family and their lawyers.
• That the remand period be broken into two stages and categories:
In the investigation of an offence punishable with imprisonment of less than 14 years, a magistrate may issue a remand order of not more than four days on the first application and not more than three days on the second.
For an offence that is punishable with the death penalty or imprisonment of more than 14 years, a magistrate can grant up to seven days’ remand on the first application, followed by a maximum of seven more days on the second.
An accused person has automatic right to obtain favourable documents like first information report and the cautioned statement to prepare his defence.
There are now clear provisions on how a search should be conducted on suspects in order to safeguard their dignity.
The four types of body searches allowed are pat down search, strip search, intimate search and intrusive search. The controversial "nude squat" is banned.
Lawyer and lecturer Baljit Singh Sidhu said the amendment on remand prisoners was an excellent development.
"Before, there were repeated allegations of these prisoners being abused while under police custody."
He said punishment for offences such as rape and snatch theft had been enhanced but the provision for rehabilitation outside prison had been overlooked.
"It is left to be seen whether a longer custodial sentence will bring down such crime," he said.
KUALA LUMPUR: Beating one’s wife into having sex can now land a man in serious trouble.
The punishment is a jail sentence of up to 20 years and whipping. This penalty is provided in an amendment on rape in the Penal Code which came into effect last Friday.
An example would be when the husband refuses to take "no" for an answer and then proceeds to slap or punch his wife into submission.
The amendment has classified rape and aggravated rape and each category carries different penalties.
Aggravated rape will include having sex with a girl aged below 12 and those found guilty could be sentenced up to 30 years and whipped.
The definition of rape has also been extended to cover the sexual exploitation of women by people in authority as in the case of a medicine man taking advantage of women seeking treatment.
Snatch theft has been reclassified as robbery and the perpetrator now faces up to 14 years in jail.
The maximum sentence for this offence was seven years in prison.
In July last year, parliament passed amendments to the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) after a parliamentary select committee obtained feedback from the public and after visiting several Commonwealth countries to study their laws.
Changes to the CPC provide better rights for arrested persons. They include:
• Informing detainees of the grounds for their arrest as soon as possible and allowing them to inform their family and their lawyers.
• That the remand period be broken into two stages and categories:
In the investigation of an offence punishable with imprisonment of less than 14 years, a magistrate may issue a remand order of not more than four days on the first application and not more than three days on the second.
For an offence that is punishable with the death penalty or imprisonment of more than 14 years, a magistrate can grant up to seven days’ remand on the first application, followed by a maximum of seven more days on the second.
An accused person has automatic right to obtain favourable documents like first information report and the cautioned statement to prepare his defence.
There are now clear provisions on how a search should be conducted on suspects in order to safeguard their dignity.
The four types of body searches allowed are pat down search, strip search, intimate search and intrusive search. The controversial "nude squat" is banned.
Lawyer and lecturer Baljit Singh Sidhu said the amendment on remand prisoners was an excellent development.
"Before, there were repeated allegations of these prisoners being abused while under police custody."
He said punishment for offences such as rape and snatch theft had been enhanced but the provision for rehabilitation outside prison had been overlooked.
"It is left to be seen whether a longer custodial sentence will bring down such crime," he said.
Thursday, 6 September 2007
The Malaysian HIV epidemic after 20 years
One of the hardest things to obtain when working on HIV in Malaysia has got to be the national and state statistics. The yearly Quest to obtain these sets of critical data is sometimes akin to questing for the Holy Grail with philosophical questions being asked by the Sacred Keepers and the need to show that you are worthy.Anyway, I've decided that in the future, wherever I get hold of these statistics, I'm just going to post them here for everyone's benefit. I've also done some analysis of the data which will be used in a series of special reports particularly on the issue of women and HIV in Malaysia. These I will share as much as I can.
The statistics for the country and indeed the data depended upon by policy makers to justify interventions are simply put, inadequate.I believe that we are currently mapping out the drug user HIV epidemic as opposed to the general population. The response to drug use, though essential and critical, should not be the only response to HIV.
The bulk of the resources allocated to combat this disease is tied up in activities related to HIV prevention among drug users. Other interventions such as those relating to heterosexual transmissions are mostly education campaigns which don't even really talk about sex to begin with..
Monday, 3 September 2007
Alarming rise in teenage smokers
The Star (03/09/07)
KOTA KINABALU: Teenagers in Sabah are taking up smoking at alarmingly high rate and some are having sex as early as the age of 10. A research by health officials among suburban teenagers in Telipok near here found that 30.3% admitted to being regular smokers, which is double the national average of 16% and above the global average of 20%.
“Nearly, a third of the teenaged respondents admitted to be smokers. It seems to be a common trend among Sabah teenagers. “Even more worrying is that the number of young girls taking up smoking has doubled from 4% to 8% in the last 10 years,” Sabah Health Department deputy director Dr Mohd Yusof Ibrahim said at the launching of the Telipok Teen Health Clinic here on Saturday.
The recent research was conducted by the Telipok Health Clinic on the periphery of the city to gauge the problem of smoking as well as the sexual habits of teenagers, which is to be used as a yardstick by the department for its various public health campaigns. The study also noted that 1.8% of the teenagers admitted to having premarital sex with a few disclosing that they had done so at the age of 10. “Premarital sex among teenagers, however, seems considerably lower,” he said, in explaining that it could be due to many respondents’ reluctance to answer direct questions on the matter.
Dr Yusof, however, said based on indirect questions like if they (teenagers) were aware of their friends being smokers or had sex showed a higher average with 66.4% saying they had at least one friend who was a smoker and 16.9% having knowledge of one their friends having sex. Dr Yusof did not mention the number of teenagers interviewed.
He said the Health Ministry found that 40% of the HIV patients in the country were below the age of 29 and in Sabah, 80% of the HIV infected teenagers had contracted it through unhealthy sexual practices.
KOTA KINABALU: Teenagers in Sabah are taking up smoking at alarmingly high rate and some are having sex as early as the age of 10. A research by health officials among suburban teenagers in Telipok near here found that 30.3% admitted to being regular smokers, which is double the national average of 16% and above the global average of 20%.
“Nearly, a third of the teenaged respondents admitted to be smokers. It seems to be a common trend among Sabah teenagers. “Even more worrying is that the number of young girls taking up smoking has doubled from 4% to 8% in the last 10 years,” Sabah Health Department deputy director Dr Mohd Yusof Ibrahim said at the launching of the Telipok Teen Health Clinic here on Saturday.
The recent research was conducted by the Telipok Health Clinic on the periphery of the city to gauge the problem of smoking as well as the sexual habits of teenagers, which is to be used as a yardstick by the department for its various public health campaigns. The study also noted that 1.8% of the teenagers admitted to having premarital sex with a few disclosing that they had done so at the age of 10. “Premarital sex among teenagers, however, seems considerably lower,” he said, in explaining that it could be due to many respondents’ reluctance to answer direct questions on the matter.
Dr Yusof, however, said based on indirect questions like if they (teenagers) were aware of their friends being smokers or had sex showed a higher average with 66.4% saying they had at least one friend who was a smoker and 16.9% having knowledge of one their friends having sex. Dr Yusof did not mention the number of teenagers interviewed.
He said the Health Ministry found that 40% of the HIV patients in the country were below the age of 29 and in Sabah, 80% of the HIV infected teenagers had contracted it through unhealthy sexual practices.
Saturday, 25 August 2007
Warista perlu sokongan
Harian Metro (25/08/07)
KUALA LUMPUR: Persatuan Wawasan Warisan Wanita (Warista) meminta kerajaan dan badan korporat memberi perhatian serta sokongan kepada badan itu bagi merealisasikan usaha mengurangkan kadar pekerja seks dan penagih tegar di sekitar Jalan Chow Kit.Presidennya, Dr Mai Sargeant, berkata sehingga kini, pihaknya masih mencari tempat sesuai untuk dijadikan rumah perlindungan Warista.Persatuan yang didaftarkan sebagai badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) pada 19 Julai tahun lalu itu sudah melaksanakan pelbagai aktiviti termasuk mendekati golongan berkenaan bagi menerangkan kaedah menghindari jangkitan HIV, memberi kaunseling dan sokongan moral serta menyediakan peluang pekerjaan baru.
“Semua usaha ini dipacu bagi menyokong pekerja seks dan penagih supaya meninggalkan kerja di lorong gelap sekali gus menyediakan kehidupan baru yang lebih bermakna kepada mereka,” katanya ketika ditemui, semalam. Menurut Dr Mai, Warista berharap mempunyai pusat pemulihan yang dapat menampung keperluan golongan yang benar-benar mahu mengubah gaya hidup mereka.“Seboleh-bolehnya, kita mahu menarik golongan pekerja seks yang sudah berumur dan yang mempunyai anak untuk turut serta dalam program pemulihan ini nanti,” katanya.
Dr Mai berkata, kunjungan semula Warista ke Jalan Chow Kit baru-baru ini mendapati, golongan anak-anak pekerja seks semakin bertambah. “Mereka ini bukan saja terbiar tanpa pendidikan dan perhatian masyarakat, malah tidak memiliki pengenalan diri. “Ini bukan saja mendorong kepada masalah sosial pada masa akan datang, malah menggelapkan masa depan kanak-kanak tidak berdosa untuk mendapatkan pendidikan, rawatan kesihatan dan perhatian sewajarnya,” katanya.
Beliau berkata, kebanyakan golongan berkenaan mempunyai cita-cita untuk berubah, tetapi ia disekat dengan sikap keras hati masyarakat yang enggan mengiktiraf hak mereka sebagai manusia biasa. “Justeru, kami harap, dengan adanya pusat pemulihan itu nanti, mereka boleh diberi didikan semula untuk menjana pendapatan sendiri dalam beberapa bidang sedia ada seperti kelas jahitan yang dikendalikan Bumiputera Designer Association (BDA) dan beberapa kelas kemahiran lain,” katanya.
KUALA LUMPUR: Persatuan Wawasan Warisan Wanita (Warista) meminta kerajaan dan badan korporat memberi perhatian serta sokongan kepada badan itu bagi merealisasikan usaha mengurangkan kadar pekerja seks dan penagih tegar di sekitar Jalan Chow Kit.Presidennya, Dr Mai Sargeant, berkata sehingga kini, pihaknya masih mencari tempat sesuai untuk dijadikan rumah perlindungan Warista.Persatuan yang didaftarkan sebagai badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) pada 19 Julai tahun lalu itu sudah melaksanakan pelbagai aktiviti termasuk mendekati golongan berkenaan bagi menerangkan kaedah menghindari jangkitan HIV, memberi kaunseling dan sokongan moral serta menyediakan peluang pekerjaan baru.
“Semua usaha ini dipacu bagi menyokong pekerja seks dan penagih supaya meninggalkan kerja di lorong gelap sekali gus menyediakan kehidupan baru yang lebih bermakna kepada mereka,” katanya ketika ditemui, semalam. Menurut Dr Mai, Warista berharap mempunyai pusat pemulihan yang dapat menampung keperluan golongan yang benar-benar mahu mengubah gaya hidup mereka.“Seboleh-bolehnya, kita mahu menarik golongan pekerja seks yang sudah berumur dan yang mempunyai anak untuk turut serta dalam program pemulihan ini nanti,” katanya.
Dr Mai berkata, kunjungan semula Warista ke Jalan Chow Kit baru-baru ini mendapati, golongan anak-anak pekerja seks semakin bertambah. “Mereka ini bukan saja terbiar tanpa pendidikan dan perhatian masyarakat, malah tidak memiliki pengenalan diri. “Ini bukan saja mendorong kepada masalah sosial pada masa akan datang, malah menggelapkan masa depan kanak-kanak tidak berdosa untuk mendapatkan pendidikan, rawatan kesihatan dan perhatian sewajarnya,” katanya.
Beliau berkata, kebanyakan golongan berkenaan mempunyai cita-cita untuk berubah, tetapi ia disekat dengan sikap keras hati masyarakat yang enggan mengiktiraf hak mereka sebagai manusia biasa. “Justeru, kami harap, dengan adanya pusat pemulihan itu nanti, mereka boleh diberi didikan semula untuk menjana pendapatan sendiri dalam beberapa bidang sedia ada seperti kelas jahitan yang dikendalikan Bumiputera Designer Association (BDA) dan beberapa kelas kemahiran lain,” katanya.
Thursday, 23 August 2007
AIDS awareness lacking
The Star (23/08/07)
COLOMBO: A survey among a small group of HIV+ widows who have remarried found that their uninfected husbands do not use condoms consistently when engaging in sex with them.
“The women said they always reminded their husbands to use a condom but they do not always use it because they dislike condoms, do not have one at hand, or want to have a child,” said Malaysian AIDS Foundation advisor Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir at the Eighth International Congress on HIV/AIDS (Icaap) here in Sri Lanka at a session on married women’s vulnerability towards HIV/AIDS.
At the conference, married monogamous women have been cited as an emerging group most vulnerable to HIV infection, and among the most silent sufferers of the epidemic.
Marina was citing a study that she carried out with University Malaya post-graduate student Sumathi Govindasamy of 56 HIV+ widows in Kota Baru, Kelantan, to explore the issues and challenges they face. Out of those surveyed, six have remarried and their husbands know about their HIV+ status. However, remarriage is not an option considered by most of the HIV+ women surveyed as they will have to disclose their HIV+ status to their intended husband, and they are not prepared to take that step.
“All of the women surveyed were infected by their late husbands, and 80% were married to injecting drug users. However, they continued having unsafe sex with their husbands even after learning about their injecting behaviour, said Marina. “Some 53% of these women were still not sure if it was the drugs, or the act of injecting that caused the HIV infection. It was evident that basic knowledge on HIV transmission risk is low even now among these women,” she added. Only 10% of those surveyed have ever used a condom, and it was usually for “experimental reasons” rather than for protection. The rate of infection among women in Malaysia has gone up from 1.2% in 1990 to 9.4% in 2000.
At the Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab in Kota Baru, eight or nine women are newly diagnosed with HIV every month, and most of them are infected through heterosexual sex. Some of the remarried HIV+ women were concerned that their uninfected husbands might choose to take another wife without informing the intended co-wife of the first wife’s HIV+ status. “Even with mandatory premarital testing, only the couple getting married will be tested,” reported Marina.
“There is a risk of HIV transmission from the HIV+ first wife to the husband to the second wife, especially if he continues to have sex with both women,” she said, adding that this indicated that mandatory premarital testing would not be effective in protecting people from HIV infection, especially in polygamous marriages.
COLOMBO: A survey among a small group of HIV+ widows who have remarried found that their uninfected husbands do not use condoms consistently when engaging in sex with them.
“The women said they always reminded their husbands to use a condom but they do not always use it because they dislike condoms, do not have one at hand, or want to have a child,” said Malaysian AIDS Foundation advisor Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir at the Eighth International Congress on HIV/AIDS (Icaap) here in Sri Lanka at a session on married women’s vulnerability towards HIV/AIDS.
At the conference, married monogamous women have been cited as an emerging group most vulnerable to HIV infection, and among the most silent sufferers of the epidemic.
Marina was citing a study that she carried out with University Malaya post-graduate student Sumathi Govindasamy of 56 HIV+ widows in Kota Baru, Kelantan, to explore the issues and challenges they face. Out of those surveyed, six have remarried and their husbands know about their HIV+ status. However, remarriage is not an option considered by most of the HIV+ women surveyed as they will have to disclose their HIV+ status to their intended husband, and they are not prepared to take that step.
“All of the women surveyed were infected by their late husbands, and 80% were married to injecting drug users. However, they continued having unsafe sex with their husbands even after learning about their injecting behaviour, said Marina. “Some 53% of these women were still not sure if it was the drugs, or the act of injecting that caused the HIV infection. It was evident that basic knowledge on HIV transmission risk is low even now among these women,” she added. Only 10% of those surveyed have ever used a condom, and it was usually for “experimental reasons” rather than for protection. The rate of infection among women in Malaysia has gone up from 1.2% in 1990 to 9.4% in 2000.
At the Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab in Kota Baru, eight or nine women are newly diagnosed with HIV every month, and most of them are infected through heterosexual sex. Some of the remarried HIV+ women were concerned that their uninfected husbands might choose to take another wife without informing the intended co-wife of the first wife’s HIV+ status. “Even with mandatory premarital testing, only the couple getting married will be tested,” reported Marina.
“There is a risk of HIV transmission from the HIV+ first wife to the husband to the second wife, especially if he continues to have sex with both women,” she said, adding that this indicated that mandatory premarital testing would not be effective in protecting people from HIV infection, especially in polygamous marriages.
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
On human trafficking in Malaysia
With reference to the recent case of the alleged trafficking of Lannie Erecito, a Filipino national in
The sad reality is that
Monday, 16 July 2007
Residents against AIDS centre
New Straits Times (16/07/07)
GEORGE TOWN: Some 2,000 Jelutong residents are calling for the relocation of the AIDS rehabilitation centre in their area.Residents who live along Jalan Selama, Jalan Taiping and Jalan Ooi Thiam Siew claimed that drug addicts who come to the Alternatif Community Centre (ACC) in Jalan Selama for fresh needles had turned two houses along the same stretch into vice dens.They also claimed that several people had been seen in the area selling drugs.
"We believe these addicts were responsible for the burning of a house and another which was partly destroyed recently," said businessman Azmi Ismail, 40.He said 50 addicts could be seen in the area between 11am and 1pm. Sundry shop owner Ong Lai Choon, 65, claimed that his house-cum-sundry shop had been broken into by addicts three times this year."During the incidents, I lost almost RM1,000 worth of cigarettes, some money and other items," said Ong.
Retiree Maimunah Yahya, 57, said residents were fully supportive of the initiative being carried out by the centre but felt that it should not have been located in a residential area.Assuring residents that their welfare and security would not be compromised, Jelutong MP Datuk Lee Kah Choon said he would look into their complaints.
The centre falls under the purview of the AIDS Action Research Group, which helps the Health Ministry to carry out a programme called the Harm Reduction Initiative. Under the ministry-funded initiative, the centre runs a needle exchange programme which provides fresh needles to intravenous drug users in an effort to reduce the spread of HIV among addicts.
GEORGE TOWN: Some 2,000 Jelutong residents are calling for the relocation of the AIDS rehabilitation centre in their area.Residents who live along Jalan Selama, Jalan Taiping and Jalan Ooi Thiam Siew claimed that drug addicts who come to the Alternatif Community Centre (ACC) in Jalan Selama for fresh needles had turned two houses along the same stretch into vice dens.They also claimed that several people had been seen in the area selling drugs.
"We believe these addicts were responsible for the burning of a house and another which was partly destroyed recently," said businessman Azmi Ismail, 40.He said 50 addicts could be seen in the area between 11am and 1pm. Sundry shop owner Ong Lai Choon, 65, claimed that his house-cum-sundry shop had been broken into by addicts three times this year."During the incidents, I lost almost RM1,000 worth of cigarettes, some money and other items," said Ong.
Retiree Maimunah Yahya, 57, said residents were fully supportive of the initiative being carried out by the centre but felt that it should not have been located in a residential area.Assuring residents that their welfare and security would not be compromised, Jelutong MP Datuk Lee Kah Choon said he would look into their complaints.
The centre falls under the purview of the AIDS Action Research Group, which helps the Health Ministry to carry out a programme called the Harm Reduction Initiative. Under the ministry-funded initiative, the centre runs a needle exchange programme which provides fresh needles to intravenous drug users in an effort to reduce the spread of HIV among addicts.
Sunday, 10 June 2007
Needle exchange programme to cover three more towns
New Straits Times, 10 June 2007
SERDANG: The Needle and Syringe Exchange Programme (NSEP) aimed at checking HIV/AIDS will be expanded to Alor Star, Kuantan and Kota Baru this year, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Some 3,600 people are expected to benefit from the programme."Until February, 1,707 people in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru and Penang had benefited from the programme compared with the initial target of 1,200 clients," Dr Chua said when opening the Prostar 2007 convention at Universiti Putra Malaysia here. His speech was read out by deputy director-general of Health (Public Health) Datuk Dr Ramlee Rahmat.
Prostar is an AIDS awareness programme for youths. The NSEP and methadone therapy are part of government efforts to fight HIV/AIDS as most of the infected patients are intravenous drug users (IDUs)
On methadone therapy, Dr Chua said 1,241 patients had registered for the one-year programme and the government had expanded it to 17 hospitals and 24 health clinics. "From only 10 health centres it has been extended to more than 50 centres and 5,000 drug addicts nationwide. This is a five-fold increase."
Allocation for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS had seen a big jump from RM40 million annually since 1993 and an additional RM500 million from 2006 to 2010, mostly for the "harm reduction" programme. The government’s National Strategy Plan (NSP) against HIV/AIDS is for the period from 2006 to 2010.
On the Prostar programme, Dr Chua said the government had allocated RM3.8 million for 1,395 School Prostar Clubs, 104 Prostar Clubs and 11 Prostar service centres with membership of 11,036 nationwide
SERDANG: The Needle and Syringe Exchange Programme (NSEP) aimed at checking HIV/AIDS will be expanded to Alor Star, Kuantan and Kota Baru this year, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Some 3,600 people are expected to benefit from the programme."Until February, 1,707 people in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru and Penang had benefited from the programme compared with the initial target of 1,200 clients," Dr Chua said when opening the Prostar 2007 convention at Universiti Putra Malaysia here. His speech was read out by deputy director-general of Health (Public Health) Datuk Dr Ramlee Rahmat.
Prostar is an AIDS awareness programme for youths. The NSEP and methadone therapy are part of government efforts to fight HIV/AIDS as most of the infected patients are intravenous drug users (IDUs)
On methadone therapy, Dr Chua said 1,241 patients had registered for the one-year programme and the government had expanded it to 17 hospitals and 24 health clinics. "From only 10 health centres it has been extended to more than 50 centres and 5,000 drug addicts nationwide. This is a five-fold increase."
Allocation for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS had seen a big jump from RM40 million annually since 1993 and an additional RM500 million from 2006 to 2010, mostly for the "harm reduction" programme. The government’s National Strategy Plan (NSP) against HIV/AIDS is for the period from 2006 to 2010.
On the Prostar programme, Dr Chua said the government had allocated RM3.8 million for 1,395 School Prostar Clubs, 104 Prostar Clubs and 11 Prostar service centres with membership of 11,036 nationwide
Saturday, 9 June 2007
Supporting sex workers in Chow Kit
Drop in for a life-change
Malay Mail, 9 June 2007, Sushma Veera
KUALA LUMPUR: She never got the chance to have proper religious education. As such, 46-year-old Lina is now making full use of it to learn more about religion, hygiene, and even have time to ‘lepak’. She was among those met at a drop-in centre for sex workers in Jalan Chow Kit to provide them with reading, writing, maths, religious and even beauty lessons. “When I’m not attending lessons here, I would cook for the others and help run the centre.” (See accompanying story)
Nestled between shoplots, it was initially part of the PT Foundation’s office before moving to its own space about four months ago. “The centre was set up to give sex workers a safe place of their own. This is a centre where they can come and relax, take a nap or even do their laundry,” said S. Jenithaa, the executive director of PT Foundation. It also provides breakfast, lunch and tea. The centre is being managed by their outreach worker Selvi @ Fatimah.
Although rather new, the response, according to Jenithaa, is overwhelming and amazing. “We are at the hub of the area. We don’t have other means of promotion for the centre like flyers or posters, but through word of mouth. Our outreach workers would meet the sex workers and tell them about our place and encourage them to come over, at least once, as a start.
“Most who came for the first time, kept coming back. They feel more at home here.” Jenithaa said the centre wants to educate sex workers on prevention against HIV and AIDS. ”We need to create a rapport with them with programmes, and it is through these classes that we incorporate the education and prevention methods.” For example, she said, when they explain about hygiene, they would show the correct way to use a condom and why it must be used.”We will also explain how the HIV virus spreads and what the girls can do to prevent it.” There are also legal aid clinics every Thursday.
Jenithaa said it is important to reach out to these girls in a subtle manner. “It’s absurd to approach them directly. It is not easy to deal with them as many feel rejected and neglected. We have to be very subtle, taking one step at a time.” On how they keep track of these girls, she said they would do mapping and keep a database of them. “Once we get them to come, we would encourage them to do the rapid HIV test done every Tuesday evening by a doctor. It is also open to others.
“You would be surprised to see the results. It’s also sad that many of the sex workers don’t know they are HIV-positive. We would refer them to the Sungai Buloh hospital for treatment. We even provide transportation.” She said they do face problems when some of those who tested positive refused to come to the hospital. “That’s why there is an urgent need for them to be educated about HIV and AIDS, and other sexually-transmitted diseases.”
For future programmes, she said they are planning to introduce other lessons, like aerobics, sewing and baking. “As for baking, we want to encourage the sex workers to try baking some cookies, especially during the festive season, as a means of income.” She said the centre lacks sponsorship. “For a start, we need more furniture, but most of all, volunteers with a passion to work here and help the sex workers.” PT Foundation also conducts counseling.
They can be reached at Tel: 03-40445455 or 40445466.
The telephone counseling sessions are available from Monday to Friday between 7.30pm and 9.30pm.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opening doors to a better life
Malay Mail, 9 June 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: “It’s not easy to come out of this flesh trade because to many, it is the only trade they know,” says S. Jenithaa, the executive director of PT Foundation of the sex workers in Chow Kit. She said some are as young as 16 while a few are 75, adding that she was shocked to find out that while many never had proper education, some actually completed their higher secondary education.
“These girls trusted their lovers and had left their family behind, only to end up here. After a certain age, they would not have any savings for themselves, as all the money had been given to their boyfriend.”
She said there was a case of a sixth generation of sex worker in a family and there are also siblings involved.
“It’s like a circle of life. When a sex worker has a child, they fail to get the birth certificate or identity card for the child, resulting in them to losing out in education. When the child grows up, she joins the mother in the business. If it’s a boy, he may become a drug addict or petty thief.”
She said procedures, at times, makes it more difficult for these people to get documentation, especially MyKad. “Many would come to our legal aid clinic every Thursday at PT Foundation with various problems. It is also open for others like transsexuals. The problems are not only about not having birth certs or MyKad, but also about being mishandled by enforcement officers.”
She said at least 80 per cent of the sex workers also take drugs, pills or alcohol, if not a combination of all.
Many people, she said, had asked why wouldn’t the sex workers find a proper job. “To them, what they are doing is not wrong as they don’t know any other skills.”
She said the best they could do is to ensure that the sex workers are given adequate information on HIV and AIDS and how to prevent the disease.
“We can’t make them come out immediately. We have to educate them before making them realise that there is another door for them to open.”
Tuesday, 5 June 2007
Number of sick foreigners arriving to work here increasing
The Star, 4 June 2007
TAIPING: More than 40,000 foreign workers have been sent back to their country of origin after failing their health checks last year, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. This figure, he said, represented 3.4% of the 1.3 million foreign workers who underwent mandatory health checks.
“This is worrying as the figure keeps increasing over the years,” he told reporters after opening a blood donation campaign here yesterday. Dr Chua said certain diseases such as tuberculosis, leprosy and malaria made a comeback in recent years because of foreign workers.
Last year, the ministry detected 10,376 cases of tuberculosis, Hepatitis B (15,000), syphilis (3,600) and HIV (740). Dr Chua urged employers to cooperate and send their foreign workers for health checks. “Don’t put it off just because you want to save some money. These workers can be the cause of diseases to your family,” he advised.
On the ministry’s part, Dr Chua said they had made it compulsory for foreign workers to undergo medical checks a month, a year and two years after their arrival. “This is to ensure they are free from infectious diseases,” he added.
To a question, Dr Chua said the Government had no choice but to send the foreign workers who failed their health checks back to their country of origin. “We cannot continue subsidising healthcare for immigrants,” he said, citing the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu as an example where 25% of inpatients were foreigners. “Once they get admitted, they also take the hospital’s pillows, table fans and flasks,” he quipped.
On another matter, Dr Chua said the ministry had signed a memorandum of understanding with private hospitals for the latter to not charge their patients exorbitantly for blood supplied by Government hospitals. “If they fail to fulfil the agreement, blood supply to private hospitals will be cut off,” he added.
TAIPING: More than 40,000 foreign workers have been sent back to their country of origin after failing their health checks last year, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. This figure, he said, represented 3.4% of the 1.3 million foreign workers who underwent mandatory health checks.
“This is worrying as the figure keeps increasing over the years,” he told reporters after opening a blood donation campaign here yesterday. Dr Chua said certain diseases such as tuberculosis, leprosy and malaria made a comeback in recent years because of foreign workers.
Last year, the ministry detected 10,376 cases of tuberculosis, Hepatitis B (15,000), syphilis (3,600) and HIV (740). Dr Chua urged employers to cooperate and send their foreign workers for health checks. “Don’t put it off just because you want to save some money. These workers can be the cause of diseases to your family,” he advised.
On the ministry’s part, Dr Chua said they had made it compulsory for foreign workers to undergo medical checks a month, a year and two years after their arrival. “This is to ensure they are free from infectious diseases,” he added.
To a question, Dr Chua said the Government had no choice but to send the foreign workers who failed their health checks back to their country of origin. “We cannot continue subsidising healthcare for immigrants,” he said, citing the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu as an example where 25% of inpatients were foreigners. “Once they get admitted, they also take the hospital’s pillows, table fans and flasks,” he quipped.
On another matter, Dr Chua said the ministry had signed a memorandum of understanding with private hospitals for the latter to not charge their patients exorbitantly for blood supplied by Government hospitals. “If they fail to fulfil the agreement, blood supply to private hospitals will be cut off,” he added.
Friday, 1 June 2007
Fighting HIV/AIDS: All agencies must pitch in
New Straits Times, 31 May 2007 - KAMAL SOLHAIMI FADZIL, Kuala Lumpur
THE time has come again to look at the HIV/AIDS problem. The trend over the years has been for the NGOs on one side calling for sex education in schools, condom distribution and more flexibility in addressing Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs) and the Health Ministry on the other side calling for abstinence and to stop sharing needles (preferably stop taking drugs altogether) and monogamy.
What appears to highlight these arguments is not so much personal conviction as the position one speaks from.
The director-general of health explains that Malaysia is an Islamic state and for this reason, addressing the reality of HIV becomes complicated.
If we accept the statistics, every year there is approximately an increase of 10 per cent in the number of people infected with HIV. Generally, it is accepted that 70 per cent of the total figure are IDUs.
If we take the statistics given at face value and what was reported (75,000 HIV patients were infected through drug use), we have approximately 100,000 people infected with HIV today. To highlight the significance of these figures, Australia, with roughly the same population as Malaysia, has about 20,000 HIV patients.
In the late 1980s, when both countries began to discover HIV cases, the number of infected people was very close. Three decades later, Australia has managed to control the number of newly-infected while we have only seen the numbers increase.
It is time we look around us, and ask ourselves what is it that they are doing that has been successful at keeping the number of infected people five times less than ours?
To say that no action has been taken in Malaysia is unfair. Recently there has been the needle exchange programme and limited distribution of condoms to targeted risk groups by NGOs. The ministry has worked hard to provide the necessary medication, counselling, and treatment. It is also common to see posters on public awareness about HIV/AIDS in public hospitals and clinics.
The problem of course is that other than the Health Ministry, other ministries have been slow to pick up their end of the responsibility. We should by now realise that the challenge to reduce the number of newly infected people lies with a broad spectrum of participation and is not only the responsibility of the Health Ministry.
People who are becoming infected are between the ages of 20 and 40. The statistics also show an increase among women. With parents being infected with HIV/AIDS, children are at risk of being orphaned or infected with the virus. Children, women, young adults and working people, form the risk group for HIV/AIDS.
It is a disease that may spread largely from one’s behaviour but the complexity of the implications that HIV creates makes it a concern for everyone. Treating HIV/AIDS may lie in the domain of the Health Ministry but prevention is the concern of everyone including ministries that cover women, children, youth, public education, human resources and health.
The solution needs to be a concerted effort from all ministries and it needs to reflect the secular nature of Malaysia. Hence, it is about time we teach about sexuality and sexual health in schools. We should also teach not only about abstinence but also about responsible sexual practice.
As long as condoms are legal in Malaysia we should enlist it in our fight against HIV. The challenge, as I see it, is not to de-stigmatise condoms, rather it is as a society to take a mature look at sex and sexuality.
THE time has come again to look at the HIV/AIDS problem. The trend over the years has been for the NGOs on one side calling for sex education in schools, condom distribution and more flexibility in addressing Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs) and the Health Ministry on the other side calling for abstinence and to stop sharing needles (preferably stop taking drugs altogether) and monogamy.
What appears to highlight these arguments is not so much personal conviction as the position one speaks from.
The director-general of health explains that Malaysia is an Islamic state and for this reason, addressing the reality of HIV becomes complicated.
If we accept the statistics, every year there is approximately an increase of 10 per cent in the number of people infected with HIV. Generally, it is accepted that 70 per cent of the total figure are IDUs.
If we take the statistics given at face value and what was reported (75,000 HIV patients were infected through drug use), we have approximately 100,000 people infected with HIV today. To highlight the significance of these figures, Australia, with roughly the same population as Malaysia, has about 20,000 HIV patients.
In the late 1980s, when both countries began to discover HIV cases, the number of infected people was very close. Three decades later, Australia has managed to control the number of newly-infected while we have only seen the numbers increase.
It is time we look around us, and ask ourselves what is it that they are doing that has been successful at keeping the number of infected people five times less than ours?
To say that no action has been taken in Malaysia is unfair. Recently there has been the needle exchange programme and limited distribution of condoms to targeted risk groups by NGOs. The ministry has worked hard to provide the necessary medication, counselling, and treatment. It is also common to see posters on public awareness about HIV/AIDS in public hospitals and clinics.
The problem of course is that other than the Health Ministry, other ministries have been slow to pick up their end of the responsibility. We should by now realise that the challenge to reduce the number of newly infected people lies with a broad spectrum of participation and is not only the responsibility of the Health Ministry.
People who are becoming infected are between the ages of 20 and 40. The statistics also show an increase among women. With parents being infected with HIV/AIDS, children are at risk of being orphaned or infected with the virus. Children, women, young adults and working people, form the risk group for HIV/AIDS.
It is a disease that may spread largely from one’s behaviour but the complexity of the implications that HIV creates makes it a concern for everyone. Treating HIV/AIDS may lie in the domain of the Health Ministry but prevention is the concern of everyone including ministries that cover women, children, youth, public education, human resources and health.
The solution needs to be a concerted effort from all ministries and it needs to reflect the secular nature of Malaysia. Hence, it is about time we teach about sexuality and sexual health in schools. We should also teach not only about abstinence but also about responsible sexual practice.
As long as condoms are legal in Malaysia we should enlist it in our fight against HIV. The challenge, as I see it, is not to de-stigmatise condoms, rather it is as a society to take a mature look at sex and sexuality.
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Negri makes pre-marital HIV test a must for Muslims
The Star, 29 May 2007
SEREMBAN: From Friday, all Muslim couples getting married will have to undergo HIV tests in government clinics, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said.
“We want the couples to be free of any problem that can affect their family relationship,” he said.
He said HIV and AIDS were among the top five diseases reported in the state, with 109 new cases reported last year but many cases went unreported because the victims had not gone for health checks. Mohamad said 80% of the 1,300 Muslim couples who attended pre-marital courses last year were supportive of the tests to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS. “This shows that prospective brides and grooms accept the idea and are conscious of their health,” he said when contacted.
Johor was the first to implement the ruling in 2001 before other states followed suit.
“We will offer counselling and advice to those with HIV/AIDS to make them change their lifestyle,” he said. Mohamad said that in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) report, it was stated that Malaysia had achieved all development targets except that of overcoming the HIV/AIDS issue. “Malaysia is among the countries which are not free from HIV and AIDS due to the problems of drug misuse and the practice of free sex,” he said. Mohamad said statistics from the Health Ministry’s AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases division showed that 70,559 HIV cases were reported between 1986 and December 2005. Some 10,663 patients had developed AIDS, of which 8,179 died.
SEREMBAN: From Friday, all Muslim couples getting married will have to undergo HIV tests in government clinics, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said.
“We want the couples to be free of any problem that can affect their family relationship,” he said.
He said HIV and AIDS were among the top five diseases reported in the state, with 109 new cases reported last year but many cases went unreported because the victims had not gone for health checks. Mohamad said 80% of the 1,300 Muslim couples who attended pre-marital courses last year were supportive of the tests to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS. “This shows that prospective brides and grooms accept the idea and are conscious of their health,” he said when contacted.
Johor was the first to implement the ruling in 2001 before other states followed suit.
“We will offer counselling and advice to those with HIV/AIDS to make them change their lifestyle,” he said. Mohamad said that in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) report, it was stated that Malaysia had achieved all development targets except that of overcoming the HIV/AIDS issue. “Malaysia is among the countries which are not free from HIV and AIDS due to the problems of drug misuse and the practice of free sex,” he said. Mohamad said statistics from the Health Ministry’s AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases division showed that 70,559 HIV cases were reported between 1986 and December 2005. Some 10,663 patients had developed AIDS, of which 8,179 died.
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
Editorial: Getting real with AIDS
New Straits Times, 22 May 2007
MORAL dilemmas are hard to grapple with when they arise as a consequence of a scourge as deadly as AIDS.
Consider the qualified success of the needle and syringe exchange programme introduced last year as a means of cutting down the incidence of HIV/AIDS infections spreading through the contaminated paraphernalia of drug abuse. This was an instance of "realism" taking precedence over the morally repugnant notion of helping drug addicts remain addicts, only with cleaner equipment, which too many of them took only to exchange among themselves as before. Now comes the question of condoms: To promote, or not to promote?
A quarter-century after AIDS raised its ugly head, the facts are incontrovertible: The single most effective measure against infection, other than sexual abstinence or congress only within a proper monogamous relationship, is condom use. Yet, many countries, other than ours, have wrestled with the dilemma of whether or not to encourage prophylactic use among young people by, say, installing condom vending machines in school or college lavatories. While national administrations dithered in hand-wringing anguish, infection rates inexorably climbed.
Today, some 2.3 million children under 15 are infected with HIV worldwide, with more than half-a-million infected last year alone. In this country, 38 per cent of the more than 73,000 HIV cases are between the ages of 13 and 29. Children under 15 and young people between 15 and 24 account for half of all new HIV infections, and the mother-to-child transmission rate rose from 0.2 per cent in 1991 to 1.2 per cent in 2005. Yet, too many newly infected people ruefully admit to having had the mistaken notion that HIV was a risk faced only by intravenous drug users, sex workers and the promiscuous.
Still, the government is loath to openly sanction condom use among youth, in view of the thin ice it would have to tread on religious sensibilities and cultural sensitivities. This is understandable.
But why should governments be expected to take charge of everything to do with life and death in any given nation? Here in Malaysia, such NGOs as the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) have done sterling work in expanding awareness and disseminating information and assistance to HIV/AIDS sufferers and their families, while actively pursuing preventive strategies especially among the young.
Let the MAC and other concerned organisations shoulder the task of promoting condom use, freeing the higher national authorities to uphold the ideals of clean and moral living, while social activism takes on the hard realities of modern life.
MORAL dilemmas are hard to grapple with when they arise as a consequence of a scourge as deadly as AIDS.
Consider the qualified success of the needle and syringe exchange programme introduced last year as a means of cutting down the incidence of HIV/AIDS infections spreading through the contaminated paraphernalia of drug abuse. This was an instance of "realism" taking precedence over the morally repugnant notion of helping drug addicts remain addicts, only with cleaner equipment, which too many of them took only to exchange among themselves as before. Now comes the question of condoms: To promote, or not to promote?
A quarter-century after AIDS raised its ugly head, the facts are incontrovertible: The single most effective measure against infection, other than sexual abstinence or congress only within a proper monogamous relationship, is condom use. Yet, many countries, other than ours, have wrestled with the dilemma of whether or not to encourage prophylactic use among young people by, say, installing condom vending machines in school or college lavatories. While national administrations dithered in hand-wringing anguish, infection rates inexorably climbed.
Today, some 2.3 million children under 15 are infected with HIV worldwide, with more than half-a-million infected last year alone. In this country, 38 per cent of the more than 73,000 HIV cases are between the ages of 13 and 29. Children under 15 and young people between 15 and 24 account for half of all new HIV infections, and the mother-to-child transmission rate rose from 0.2 per cent in 1991 to 1.2 per cent in 2005. Yet, too many newly infected people ruefully admit to having had the mistaken notion that HIV was a risk faced only by intravenous drug users, sex workers and the promiscuous.
Still, the government is loath to openly sanction condom use among youth, in view of the thin ice it would have to tread on religious sensibilities and cultural sensitivities. This is understandable.
But why should governments be expected to take charge of everything to do with life and death in any given nation? Here in Malaysia, such NGOs as the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) have done sterling work in expanding awareness and disseminating information and assistance to HIV/AIDS sufferers and their families, while actively pursuing preventive strategies especially among the young.
Let the MAC and other concerned organisations shoulder the task of promoting condom use, freeing the higher national authorities to uphold the ideals of clean and moral living, while social activism takes on the hard realities of modern life.
Tuesday, 22 May 2007
CONDOM SNAG : Tough task of promoting condom use goes to NGOs
New Straits Times, 21 May 2007, Shamini Darshni
KUALA LUMPUR: The debate on whether the government will lead the campaign to promote the use of condoms to fight HIV/AIDS may be over. Health Ministry deputy director Dr Jalal Halil Khalil said the job had been handed over to non-governmental organisations like the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) through its 37 affiliates.
He said the government could not be seen to be the agent advocating the use of condoms as this could be misinterpreted. "We realise that we are an Islamic country and we have to do things carefully," he told a press conference yesterday in conjunction with the International AIDS Memorial Day (IAMD).
"That is why we have given this duty to non-governmental organisations like the Malaysian AIDS Council."
Dr Jalal, of the AIDS/STD unit, said the ministry and the government were concerned about the rising number of people being infected every year. "Of course, we are worried. If not, we would not be working hard. We will not give up. We will continue to educate." Seventy per cent of the nearly 75,000 people with HIV/AIDS are Injecting Drug Users (IDUs).
Existing efforts to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS has so far been targeted at IDUs, sex workers and homosexuals. However, the steady rise of HIV/AIDS among sexually-active heterosexuals, not only among marginalised communities but also among the public, is worrying the government and NGOs. Dr Jalal said the government understood that condoms were the answer to preventing HIV transmission among marginal- ised groups like sex workers, IDUs and the public.
Citing the needle and syringe exchange programme (NSEP) introduced last year, Dr Jalal said needles and syringes were also handed out through NGOs. The NSEP falls under the National Strategic Plan on the Control and Prevention of HIV/AIDS, on which the ministry has spent RM27 million.
"The important thing is to prevent HIV/AIDS from spreading. We have to give enough information to all levels of society. But changing knowledge to behaviour is not easy." Malaysian AIDS Foundation trustee Datuk Zaman Khan, while agreeing the use of condoms was the best method of controlling HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, said abstinence was still the best option.
"There are so many taboos in this country. Not a single religion on earth encourages people to have intercourse before marriage but in reality, it happens. "I am not trying to encourage heterosexual practices but the truth is one way to stop HIV from spreading is by the use of condoms. The problem we have is about how to promote their use."
MAC president Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman said promoting the use of condoms had been a challenge over the past 20 years. "Delaying sexual practices and having monogamous relationships are ideals but these do not necessarily happen in real life. We have to match that with pragmatism." Surveys, she said, had shown that Malaysians were having sex at a young age but many were not protecting themselves. Asked how the taboo associated with condoms could be broken, she said: "I wish I knew a simple way, but there isn’t one.
"We know what works and we have to get people to realise that they have to protect themselves. For those who are against condom promotion, it’s about protecting public health and educating the young. "It does not mean that with condom promotion we are going to stand at every street corner and shout ‘condoms’ or have a condom parade. "Those things are not in keeping with our culture, but it does mean that we have to educate people about risks."
IAMD is observed worldwide on the third Sunday in May to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS.
Earlier, HIV-positive persons and representatives from margi- nalised communities, NGOs and the government, released 21 doves to represent the 21 years HIV/AIDS has been in the country.
KUALA LUMPUR: The debate on whether the government will lead the campaign to promote the use of condoms to fight HIV/AIDS may be over. Health Ministry deputy director Dr Jalal Halil Khalil said the job had been handed over to non-governmental organisations like the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) through its 37 affiliates.
He said the government could not be seen to be the agent advocating the use of condoms as this could be misinterpreted. "We realise that we are an Islamic country and we have to do things carefully," he told a press conference yesterday in conjunction with the International AIDS Memorial Day (IAMD).
"That is why we have given this duty to non-governmental organisations like the Malaysian AIDS Council."
Dr Jalal, of the AIDS/STD unit, said the ministry and the government were concerned about the rising number of people being infected every year. "Of course, we are worried. If not, we would not be working hard. We will not give up. We will continue to educate." Seventy per cent of the nearly 75,000 people with HIV/AIDS are Injecting Drug Users (IDUs).
Existing efforts to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS has so far been targeted at IDUs, sex workers and homosexuals. However, the steady rise of HIV/AIDS among sexually-active heterosexuals, not only among marginalised communities but also among the public, is worrying the government and NGOs. Dr Jalal said the government understood that condoms were the answer to preventing HIV transmission among marginal- ised groups like sex workers, IDUs and the public.
Citing the needle and syringe exchange programme (NSEP) introduced last year, Dr Jalal said needles and syringes were also handed out through NGOs. The NSEP falls under the National Strategic Plan on the Control and Prevention of HIV/AIDS, on which the ministry has spent RM27 million.
"The important thing is to prevent HIV/AIDS from spreading. We have to give enough information to all levels of society. But changing knowledge to behaviour is not easy." Malaysian AIDS Foundation trustee Datuk Zaman Khan, while agreeing the use of condoms was the best method of controlling HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, said abstinence was still the best option.
"There are so many taboos in this country. Not a single religion on earth encourages people to have intercourse before marriage but in reality, it happens. "I am not trying to encourage heterosexual practices but the truth is one way to stop HIV from spreading is by the use of condoms. The problem we have is about how to promote their use."
MAC president Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman said promoting the use of condoms had been a challenge over the past 20 years. "Delaying sexual practices and having monogamous relationships are ideals but these do not necessarily happen in real life. We have to match that with pragmatism." Surveys, she said, had shown that Malaysians were having sex at a young age but many were not protecting themselves. Asked how the taboo associated with condoms could be broken, she said: "I wish I knew a simple way, but there isn’t one.
"We know what works and we have to get people to realise that they have to protect themselves. For those who are against condom promotion, it’s about protecting public health and educating the young. "It does not mean that with condom promotion we are going to stand at every street corner and shout ‘condoms’ or have a condom parade. "Those things are not in keeping with our culture, but it does mean that we have to educate people about risks."
IAMD is observed worldwide on the third Sunday in May to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS.
Earlier, HIV-positive persons and representatives from margi- nalised communities, NGOs and the government, released 21 doves to represent the 21 years HIV/AIDS has been in the country.
Sunday, 20 May 2007
The two MPs and the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Gender Equality
Like many Malaysians, I too was appalled, yet not surprised, at the recent vulgar innuendoes uttered by the two Members of Parliament, Bung Mokhtar Radin and Mohd Said Yusof. These two individuals whose many past antics in and out of Parliament have included spouting out sexist and racist remarks and allegedly being involved in corrupt practices, continue to be a stain and disgrace on the honour and integrity of the Parliament of Malaysia. That they will continue to be unrepentant (the recent apology was probably painfully extracted under pressure from the political leadership) and are likely to repeat their childish and chauvinistic behaviour despite the uproar of the recent controversy, is also not surprising and is probably expected on the basis of past similar performances. That they continue to represent the Barisan National despite everything they have said and done, is a disgrace to the coalition and should be treated as such.
It is time for our Prime Minister to call these two to account for their behaviour. Least he forget, the rakyat is best served in Parliament by those who are the best that we can find and who appreciate and value the virtues of respect, honour, integrity and honesty. We should not resort to retain those who are clearly disdainful of these values and who continue to represent and perpetuate a culture of impunity. As a rakyat of this country and a voter, I call on the Prime Minister to suspend these two individuals, to drop them from the coming elections, and demonstrate to other Parliamentarians the need to be accountable for what they say and do. If you or the Deputy Prime Minister as the Government Whip are able to punish BN MPs who vote against or abstain from supporting government sponsored bills, surely this requires very little effort. This continued culture of impunity in Parliament whether on issues of gender chauvinism or corruption, must end.
I was also appalled to note the lack of support to Fong Po Kuan by the chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Gender Equality, Rozaidah Talib. She is obviously unworthy of the role and responsibility entrusted in the position of the Parliamentary Caucus chair. Rather than supporting the effort to censure the duo, she instead placed the blame on Fong and the opposition benches whom she stated were becoming too emotional and restrained herself from wanting to “blow the matter out of proportion”. Ms. Rozaidah should be reminded that gender equality is more than just having a seat at the table, it involves obtaining the respect of all regardless of gender. Who else should play a major role in creating this environment and preventing the reoccurrence of such incidences in Parliament if not the Caucus chair. I call on Ms. Rozaidah Talib to resign from the position of chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Gender Equality, as she would no longer inspire confidence, credibility and integrity in the protection of this issue.
It is time for our Prime Minister to call these two to account for their behaviour. Least he forget, the rakyat is best served in Parliament by those who are the best that we can find and who appreciate and value the virtues of respect, honour, integrity and honesty. We should not resort to retain those who are clearly disdainful of these values and who continue to represent and perpetuate a culture of impunity. As a rakyat of this country and a voter, I call on the Prime Minister to suspend these two individuals, to drop them from the coming elections, and demonstrate to other Parliamentarians the need to be accountable for what they say and do. If you or the Deputy Prime Minister as the Government Whip are able to punish BN MPs who vote against or abstain from supporting government sponsored bills, surely this requires very little effort. This continued culture of impunity in Parliament whether on issues of gender chauvinism or corruption, must end.
I was also appalled to note the lack of support to Fong Po Kuan by the chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Gender Equality, Rozaidah Talib. She is obviously unworthy of the role and responsibility entrusted in the position of the Parliamentary Caucus chair. Rather than supporting the effort to censure the duo, she instead placed the blame on Fong and the opposition benches whom she stated were becoming too emotional and restrained herself from wanting to “blow the matter out of proportion”. Ms. Rozaidah should be reminded that gender equality is more than just having a seat at the table, it involves obtaining the respect of all regardless of gender. Who else should play a major role in creating this environment and preventing the reoccurrence of such incidences in Parliament if not the Caucus chair. I call on Ms. Rozaidah Talib to resign from the position of chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Gender Equality, as she would no longer inspire confidence, credibility and integrity in the protection of this issue.
Friday, 18 May 2007
Closure? Not so fast..
Like many Malaysians, I too was appalled, yet not surprised, at the recent vulgar innuendoes uttered by the two Members of Parliament, Bung Mokhtar Radin and Mohd Said Yusof. These two individuals whose many past antics in and out of Parliament have included spouting out sexist and racist remarks and allegedly being involved in corrupt practices, continue to be a stain and disgrace on the honour and integrity of the Parliament of Malaysia. That they will continue to be unrepentant (the recent apology was probably painfully extracted under pressure from the political leadership) and are likely to repeat their childish and chauvinistic behaviour despite the uproar of the recent controversy, is also not surprising and is probably expected on the basis of past similar performances. That they continue to represent the Barisan National despite everything they have said and done, is a disgrace to the coalition and should be treated as such.
It is time for our Prime Minister to call these two to account for their behaviour. Least he forget, the rakyat is best served in Parliament by those who are the best that we can find and who appreciate and value the virtues of respect, honour, integrity and honesty. We should not resort to retain those who are clearly disdainful of these values and who continue to represent and perpetuate a culture of impunity. As a rakyat of this country and a voter, I call on the Prime Minister to suspend these two individuals, to drop them from the coming elections, and demonstrate to other Parliamentarians the need to be accountable for what they say and do. If you or the Deputy Prime Minister as the Government Whip are able to punish BN MPs who vote against or abstain from supporting government sponsored bills, surely this requires very little effort. This continued culture of impunity in Parliament whether on issues of gender chauvinism or corruption, must end.
I was also appalled to note the lack of support to Fong Po Kuan by the chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Gender Equality, Rozaidah Talib. She is obviously unworthy of the role and responsibility entrusted in the position of the Parliamentary Caucus chair. Rather than supporting the effort to censure the duo, she instead placed the blame on Fong and the opposition benches whom she stated were becoming too emotional and restrained herself from wanting to “blow the matter out of proportion”. Ms. Rozaidah should be reminded that gender equality is more than just having a seat at the table, it involves obtaining the respect of all regardless of gender. Who else should play a major role in creating this environment and preventing the reoccurrence of such incidences in Parliament if not the Caucus chair. I call on Ms. Rozaidah Talib to resign from the position of chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Gender Equality, as she would no longer inspire confidence, credibility and integrity in the protection of this issue.
It is time for our Prime Minister to call these two to account for their behaviour. Least he forget, the rakyat is best served in Parliament by those who are the best that we can find and who appreciate and value the virtues of respect, honour, integrity and honesty. We should not resort to retain those who are clearly disdainful of these values and who continue to represent and perpetuate a culture of impunity. As a rakyat of this country and a voter, I call on the Prime Minister to suspend these two individuals, to drop them from the coming elections, and demonstrate to other Parliamentarians the need to be accountable for what they say and do. If you or the Deputy Prime Minister as the Government Whip are able to punish BN MPs who vote against or abstain from supporting government sponsored bills, surely this requires very little effort. This continued culture of impunity in Parliament whether on issues of gender chauvinism or corruption, must end.
I was also appalled to note the lack of support to Fong Po Kuan by the chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Gender Equality, Rozaidah Talib. She is obviously unworthy of the role and responsibility entrusted in the position of the Parliamentary Caucus chair. Rather than supporting the effort to censure the duo, she instead placed the blame on Fong and the opposition benches whom she stated were becoming too emotional and restrained herself from wanting to “blow the matter out of proportion”. Ms. Rozaidah should be reminded that gender equality is more than just having a seat at the table, it involves obtaining the respect of all regardless of gender. Who else should play a major role in creating this environment and preventing the reoccurrence of such incidences in Parliament if not the Caucus chair. I call on Ms. Rozaidah Talib to resign from the position of chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Gender Equality, as she would no longer inspire confidence, credibility and integrity in the protection of this issue.
Monday, 14 May 2007
Seks rambang semakin menular
Berita Harian, 13 May 2007, Hafizah Iszahanid
PERKONGSIAN jarum suntikan di kalangan penagih dadah masih menjadi faktor utama punca HIV di Malaysia. Buktinya berdasarkan statistik pada 2005 menunjukkan 49.3 peratus kes Aids dan 66.0 peratus HIV di negara ini berpunca daripada penyalahgunaan dadah.
Bagaimanapun, dengan gaya hidup gay yang seakan menjadi sebahagian budaya hidup lelaki di kota dan kisah ‘kenduri seks’ yang menjadi paparan muka depan akhbar, adakah seks masih dianggap taboo? Ini dibuktikan dengan peningkatan kes HIV/Aids membabitkan golongan homoseksual, biseksual dan heteroseksual daripada 7.4 peratus pada 1995 kepada 25.6 peratus pada tahun lalu.
Itu belum diambil kira kisah habuan seks mat dan minah rempit, ‘parti anak VIP’ dan sebagainya yang tajuk sensasi akhbar sepanjang 2006. Adakah mereka ini tahu mengenai seks selamat? Paling penting, adakah mereka mengamalkan seks selamat? Statistik yang dikeluarkan Kementerian Kesihatan menunjukkan di Malaysia satu kes HIV terjadi dalam setiap 90 minit. Ia bermaksud 17 jangkitan sehari. Jika 365 hari, 6,205 kes dicatat pada setiap hujung tahun.
Ketua Penolong Pengarah dan Pakar Perubatan (Kesihatan Awam), Dr Mohd Nasir Abd Aziz, berkata pada 2005, 6,120 kes baru dicatatkan dengan 73.2 peratus membabitkan belia berusia antara 20 hingga 39 tahun. “Kaum Melayu mencatatkan kes jangkitan HIV/Aids paling tinggi dengan 53,272 kes dalam tempoh 20 tahun sejak 1986 hingga 2006 diikuti Cina (10,768 kes), India (5,966 kes) dan warga asing (2,339 kes) dan lain-lain 1,082 kes pada tempoh sama,” katanya.
Presiden Majlis Aids Malaysia (MAM), Profesor Adeeba Kamarulzaman, berkata isu Melayu sebagai pembawa HIV/Aids tertinggi bukan isu baru. Beliau berkata, dari dulu orang Melayu memang mengungguli carta, mungkin disebabkan majoriti penduduk Malaysia adalah Melayu. Begitupun, kebanyakan kes dikaitkan dengan faktor penagih dadah dan perkongsian jarum suntikan.
Malah, Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia pada 2004 melaporkan antara 31 hingga 41 peratus kes jangkitan HIV disebabkan perkongsian jarum dikesan di Kelantan dan Terengganu. Bagaimanapun, ia seimbang dengan penahanan 39,000 penagih dadah pada tahun sama yang menjelaskan, tindakan bersungguh-sungguh kerajaan membanteras penyalahgunaan dadah. Begitupun, faktor perkongsian jarum suntikan kini bersaing dengan faktor seks tidak selamat dan seks sesama lelaki.
Menurut laporan WHO, di kalangan negara Asia, kes jangkitan HIV tertinggi dikesan di Asia Tenggara dengan kombinasi penggunaan jarum suntikan, seks tidak selamat dan seks sesama lelaki menjadi faktor penyumbang. Ia mungkin boleh menjelaskan peningkatan jangkitan HIV di kalangan golongan muda berusia antara 20 hingga 29 tahun sebanyak 35.3 peratus.
Anehnya, dalam peningkatan kes HIV di kalangan orang muda Malaysia, di negara seperti Botswana, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania dan Zimbabwe, dibuktikan adanya penurunan antara 2000 hingga 2005. Mohd Nasir tidak menafikan hakikat itu, malah katanya, kini ia mungkin lebih hebat kerana tidak terbatas kepada faktor homoseksual tetapi turut membabitkan kes heteroseksual.
“Dulu HIV/Aids banyak dikaitkan dengan aktiviti homoseksual, tetapi kini kes membabitkan heteroseksual semakin tinggi dengan kebanyakan HIV dijangkiti daripada isteri yang mana 12 peratus wanita menghidap HIV/Aids,” katanya. Adeeba juga tidak menafikan peningkatan kes HIV/Aids di Malaysia ketika ini adalah gabungan faktor seks tidak selamat, seks sesama lelaki dan perkongsian jarum suntikan. Bagaimanapun, jika diikutkan, kempen mengenai seks selamat sudah dibuat sejak awal penubuhan MAM. Malah, satu ketika kempen seks selamat seakan menenggelamkan faktor sebenar jangkitan HIV/Aids di Malaysia. (perkongsian jarum suntikan).
Malangnya, ia seperti tidak memberi kesan kepada penduduk Malaysia. Adakah mesej MAM tidak sampai kepada sasarannya? Mungkin juga kerana WHO ada melaporkan di kebanyakan negara, maklumat mengenai seks selamat dan HIV tidak sampai. Masing-masing menganggap risiko seks tidak selamat sebagai ‘risiko peribadi’. Malah, di negara yang mencatatkan kes HIV tertinggi seperti Swaziland dan Afrika Selatan, sekumpulan besar penduduk tidak percaya mereka berisiko tinggi untuk dijangkiti HIV.
Mengikut statistik yang dikeluarkan UNAIDS/WHO pada 2006, dianggarkan 39.5 juta penduduk dunia adalah pesakit Aids. Pada tahun yang sama, 4.3 juta jangkitan dikesan dengan 65 peratus kes terjadi di sub-sahara Afrika selain wujudnya peningkatan kes di Timur Eropah dan Asia Tengah. Menurut WHO, peningkatan di Timur Eropah dan Asia Tengah adalah sebanyak 50 peratus sejak 2004. Tahun lalu, 2.9 juta orang mati kerana penyakit berkaitan Aids. Dalam laporan WHO juga menyebut, peningkatan kes HIV turut dipengaruhi faktor penularan budaya gay di China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam dan negara Amerika Latin.
Mohd Nasir berkata, peningkatan ketara kes HIV/Aids yang dicatatkan setiap tahun amat membimbangkan, malah lebih menyedihkan apabila 500,000 kanak-kanak di bawah umur 15 tahun dilaporkan dijangkiti virus itu. "Daripada jumlah itu, sebanyak 380,000 kes kematian membabitkan kanak-kanak yang kebanyakannya dijangkiti daripada ibu bapa,” katanya.
Pada 2005, WHO melaporkan di Malaysia, seramai 8,189 kanak-kanak di bawah 17 tahun kehilangan ibu atau bapa atau kedua-duanya disebabkan Aids. Pelbagai usaha dilakukan kerajaan mengurangkan kadar jangkitan HIV/Aids di negara ini termasuk kempen dan program mendidik masyarakat mengenai bahaya penyakit. Antaranya menganjurkan acara tahunan Hari Aids Sedunia serta jambori dan Konvensyen Program Sihat Tanpa Aids Untuk Remaja (Prostar).
Malah, sejumlah RM25 juta diluluskan sebagai peruntukan tambahan bagi menjalankan kempen dan program kesedaran bahaya HIV/Aids di kalangan rakyat. Program Pengurangan Kemudaratan yang diumumkan tahun lalu diharap berupaya mengurangkan statistik jangkitan di kalangan penagih dadah selepas program terapi methadone dan pertukaran jarum dibuat. Begitupun, jika hanya pihak pemerintah berusaha tetapi tuan punya badan masih bertindak sesuka hati dan sesedap rasa atas dasar ‘hidup ini aku yang punya’ tidak mustahil Malaysia akan menjadi negara pembawa HIV dan penghidap Aids utama di Asia.
PERKONGSIAN jarum suntikan di kalangan penagih dadah masih menjadi faktor utama punca HIV di Malaysia. Buktinya berdasarkan statistik pada 2005 menunjukkan 49.3 peratus kes Aids dan 66.0 peratus HIV di negara ini berpunca daripada penyalahgunaan dadah.
Bagaimanapun, dengan gaya hidup gay yang seakan menjadi sebahagian budaya hidup lelaki di kota dan kisah ‘kenduri seks’ yang menjadi paparan muka depan akhbar, adakah seks masih dianggap taboo? Ini dibuktikan dengan peningkatan kes HIV/Aids membabitkan golongan homoseksual, biseksual dan heteroseksual daripada 7.4 peratus pada 1995 kepada 25.6 peratus pada tahun lalu.
Itu belum diambil kira kisah habuan seks mat dan minah rempit, ‘parti anak VIP’ dan sebagainya yang tajuk sensasi akhbar sepanjang 2006. Adakah mereka ini tahu mengenai seks selamat? Paling penting, adakah mereka mengamalkan seks selamat? Statistik yang dikeluarkan Kementerian Kesihatan menunjukkan di Malaysia satu kes HIV terjadi dalam setiap 90 minit. Ia bermaksud 17 jangkitan sehari. Jika 365 hari, 6,205 kes dicatat pada setiap hujung tahun.
Ketua Penolong Pengarah dan Pakar Perubatan (Kesihatan Awam), Dr Mohd Nasir Abd Aziz, berkata pada 2005, 6,120 kes baru dicatatkan dengan 73.2 peratus membabitkan belia berusia antara 20 hingga 39 tahun. “Kaum Melayu mencatatkan kes jangkitan HIV/Aids paling tinggi dengan 53,272 kes dalam tempoh 20 tahun sejak 1986 hingga 2006 diikuti Cina (10,768 kes), India (5,966 kes) dan warga asing (2,339 kes) dan lain-lain 1,082 kes pada tempoh sama,” katanya.
Presiden Majlis Aids Malaysia (MAM), Profesor Adeeba Kamarulzaman, berkata isu Melayu sebagai pembawa HIV/Aids tertinggi bukan isu baru. Beliau berkata, dari dulu orang Melayu memang mengungguli carta, mungkin disebabkan majoriti penduduk Malaysia adalah Melayu. Begitupun, kebanyakan kes dikaitkan dengan faktor penagih dadah dan perkongsian jarum suntikan.
Malah, Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia pada 2004 melaporkan antara 31 hingga 41 peratus kes jangkitan HIV disebabkan perkongsian jarum dikesan di Kelantan dan Terengganu. Bagaimanapun, ia seimbang dengan penahanan 39,000 penagih dadah pada tahun sama yang menjelaskan, tindakan bersungguh-sungguh kerajaan membanteras penyalahgunaan dadah. Begitupun, faktor perkongsian jarum suntikan kini bersaing dengan faktor seks tidak selamat dan seks sesama lelaki.
Menurut laporan WHO, di kalangan negara Asia, kes jangkitan HIV tertinggi dikesan di Asia Tenggara dengan kombinasi penggunaan jarum suntikan, seks tidak selamat dan seks sesama lelaki menjadi faktor penyumbang. Ia mungkin boleh menjelaskan peningkatan jangkitan HIV di kalangan golongan muda berusia antara 20 hingga 29 tahun sebanyak 35.3 peratus.
Anehnya, dalam peningkatan kes HIV di kalangan orang muda Malaysia, di negara seperti Botswana, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania dan Zimbabwe, dibuktikan adanya penurunan antara 2000 hingga 2005. Mohd Nasir tidak menafikan hakikat itu, malah katanya, kini ia mungkin lebih hebat kerana tidak terbatas kepada faktor homoseksual tetapi turut membabitkan kes heteroseksual.
“Dulu HIV/Aids banyak dikaitkan dengan aktiviti homoseksual, tetapi kini kes membabitkan heteroseksual semakin tinggi dengan kebanyakan HIV dijangkiti daripada isteri yang mana 12 peratus wanita menghidap HIV/Aids,” katanya. Adeeba juga tidak menafikan peningkatan kes HIV/Aids di Malaysia ketika ini adalah gabungan faktor seks tidak selamat, seks sesama lelaki dan perkongsian jarum suntikan. Bagaimanapun, jika diikutkan, kempen mengenai seks selamat sudah dibuat sejak awal penubuhan MAM. Malah, satu ketika kempen seks selamat seakan menenggelamkan faktor sebenar jangkitan HIV/Aids di Malaysia. (perkongsian jarum suntikan).
Malangnya, ia seperti tidak memberi kesan kepada penduduk Malaysia. Adakah mesej MAM tidak sampai kepada sasarannya? Mungkin juga kerana WHO ada melaporkan di kebanyakan negara, maklumat mengenai seks selamat dan HIV tidak sampai. Masing-masing menganggap risiko seks tidak selamat sebagai ‘risiko peribadi’. Malah, di negara yang mencatatkan kes HIV tertinggi seperti Swaziland dan Afrika Selatan, sekumpulan besar penduduk tidak percaya mereka berisiko tinggi untuk dijangkiti HIV.
Mengikut statistik yang dikeluarkan UNAIDS/WHO pada 2006, dianggarkan 39.5 juta penduduk dunia adalah pesakit Aids. Pada tahun yang sama, 4.3 juta jangkitan dikesan dengan 65 peratus kes terjadi di sub-sahara Afrika selain wujudnya peningkatan kes di Timur Eropah dan Asia Tengah. Menurut WHO, peningkatan di Timur Eropah dan Asia Tengah adalah sebanyak 50 peratus sejak 2004. Tahun lalu, 2.9 juta orang mati kerana penyakit berkaitan Aids. Dalam laporan WHO juga menyebut, peningkatan kes HIV turut dipengaruhi faktor penularan budaya gay di China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam dan negara Amerika Latin.
Mohd Nasir berkata, peningkatan ketara kes HIV/Aids yang dicatatkan setiap tahun amat membimbangkan, malah lebih menyedihkan apabila 500,000 kanak-kanak di bawah umur 15 tahun dilaporkan dijangkiti virus itu. "Daripada jumlah itu, sebanyak 380,000 kes kematian membabitkan kanak-kanak yang kebanyakannya dijangkiti daripada ibu bapa,” katanya.
Pada 2005, WHO melaporkan di Malaysia, seramai 8,189 kanak-kanak di bawah 17 tahun kehilangan ibu atau bapa atau kedua-duanya disebabkan Aids. Pelbagai usaha dilakukan kerajaan mengurangkan kadar jangkitan HIV/Aids di negara ini termasuk kempen dan program mendidik masyarakat mengenai bahaya penyakit. Antaranya menganjurkan acara tahunan Hari Aids Sedunia serta jambori dan Konvensyen Program Sihat Tanpa Aids Untuk Remaja (Prostar).
Malah, sejumlah RM25 juta diluluskan sebagai peruntukan tambahan bagi menjalankan kempen dan program kesedaran bahaya HIV/Aids di kalangan rakyat. Program Pengurangan Kemudaratan yang diumumkan tahun lalu diharap berupaya mengurangkan statistik jangkitan di kalangan penagih dadah selepas program terapi methadone dan pertukaran jarum dibuat. Begitupun, jika hanya pihak pemerintah berusaha tetapi tuan punya badan masih bertindak sesuka hati dan sesedap rasa atas dasar ‘hidup ini aku yang punya’ tidak mustahil Malaysia akan menjadi negara pembawa HIV dan penghidap Aids utama di Asia.
Friday, 9 March 2007
Response: Of students and sexual encounters
The response by the Selangor Government proxy to my first letter:
"Of students and sexual encounters"
New Straits Times (08/03/2007) Letters
By : NORIZAN SHARIF, for Institut Perkembangan Minda, Kuala Lumpur
I REFER to "Time for leaders to face up to reality" (NST, March 6) by Azrul Mohd Khalib of Kuala Lumpur.
Allow me to clarify some of the points highlighted in his comments on the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s high-risk female youth profile.
I feel obliged to do this because it was Institut Perkembangan Minda (Inmind) which commissioned the study.
I believe the writer formed his opinion based on reports which (mis)quoted Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo’s statements during a Press conference last week.
Firstly, the menteri besar never said "we picked 54 and called them up. They told our officers that they had never had sex and that they are virgins".As a matter of fact, Dr Khir never mentioned that his officer had questioned the respondents.
What happened was a group of reporters spoke to me after the Press conference and I said the percentage contained in the draft report could not be true as, based on the 54 questionnaires in the possession of Inmind, all of the respondents said they had never had sex.
Kindly take note that Inmind, which commissioned the study, assisted the researcher in distributing the questionnaires to the respondents.
Secondly, the menteri besar never said that 68 per cent of the contents were lies. What he said was if the figures given in the draft were correct, the percentage of respondents who said they lied at least once should be higher than 68 per cent.
He argued that a school child would lie to his or her parents if they were to have sex, to steal, to gamble or to join a secret society.
Dr Khir pointed out that the draft report mentioned that more than 95 per cent of respondents said they were involved in these activities.
Thirdly, I wish to clarify that the menteri besar did not say "I have spoken to him (the researcher) and told him to correct it".
What happened was that after the Press conference, a group of reporters spoke to me and I told them that the researcher had telephoned in the morning and apologised to me because he had spoken to the Press before submitting the full report.
"Of students and sexual encounters"
New Straits Times (08/03/2007) Letters
By : NORIZAN SHARIF, for Institut Perkembangan Minda, Kuala Lumpur
I REFER to "Time for leaders to face up to reality" (NST, March 6) by Azrul Mohd Khalib of Kuala Lumpur.
Allow me to clarify some of the points highlighted in his comments on the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s high-risk female youth profile.
I feel obliged to do this because it was Institut Perkembangan Minda (Inmind) which commissioned the study.
I believe the writer formed his opinion based on reports which (mis)quoted Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo’s statements during a Press conference last week.
Firstly, the menteri besar never said "we picked 54 and called them up. They told our officers that they had never had sex and that they are virgins".As a matter of fact, Dr Khir never mentioned that his officer had questioned the respondents.
What happened was a group of reporters spoke to me after the Press conference and I said the percentage contained in the draft report could not be true as, based on the 54 questionnaires in the possession of Inmind, all of the respondents said they had never had sex.
Kindly take note that Inmind, which commissioned the study, assisted the researcher in distributing the questionnaires to the respondents.
Secondly, the menteri besar never said that 68 per cent of the contents were lies. What he said was if the figures given in the draft were correct, the percentage of respondents who said they lied at least once should be higher than 68 per cent.
He argued that a school child would lie to his or her parents if they were to have sex, to steal, to gamble or to join a secret society.
Dr Khir pointed out that the draft report mentioned that more than 95 per cent of respondents said they were involved in these activities.
Thirdly, I wish to clarify that the menteri besar did not say "I have spoken to him (the researcher) and told him to correct it".
What happened was that after the Press conference, a group of reporters spoke to me and I told them that the researcher had telephoned in the morning and apologised to me because he had spoken to the Press before submitting the full report.
Thursday, 8 March 2007
Thinktank falls on sword for Selangor MB
I refer to the letter titled "Sex survey: Selangor MB misquoted" (7 March) which responded to my earlier comment "Teen sex: Time for Khir Toyo to confront reality" (6 March). It is gratifying to see that the spirit of sacrifice is very much alive whereupon a thinktank, Institut Perkembangan Minda (InMind), appears to take the blame or at least taking responsibility for being the source for an alleged misinterpretation of the Selangor Menteri Besar Dr. Mohd Khir Toyo recent comments on the issue of teenage sex. Though I am grateful to Norizan Sharif's clarification of what the MB said or did not say, I find his response strange in its content and disappointing in addressing fundamental issues raised in my letter.
In defending the MB, the writer stated very clearly that Dr. Mohd Khir had been misquoted and that there were factual errors in the report. The strangest thing is that these articles, supposedly misquoting the MB, are displayed on the Menteri Besar's website (http://www.mbselangor.net.my/modules.php?name=English) with the English version actually having the tabloid article front and centre to the frontpage. If they were factually wrong and misrepresenting the MB as claimed by Norizan, why on earth would they be published so prominently on the MB's website in the first place? The MB's office may not even have considered or treated this article as a misquotation nor a misrepresentation of what was said in last week's press conference.
It also seems strange that information obtained by the media from Norizan during the press conference could be attributed incorrectly or, to use the convenient term, instead become a 'misquote' of the Menteri Besar. For several newspapers and the national wire service, to all get it wrong or 'misquoting' together is a little tough, I think. Is this another case of somebody else taking the blame and conducting damage control for what one of our politicians said or assumed?
In addition to that, though Norizan stated that the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) study was requested and commissioned by InMind, the fact is that this study is used to develop a programme module for youths titled Bina Insan supported and financed by the Selangor State Government as stated in InMind's own press release on its website (http://www.inmind.com.my).
It is also unfortunate that the writer did not deign to address the fundamental issues of gender bias in the development of social policy and the need to address the reality of sexual activity and vulnerability among young people.
The inability of InMind itself to accept the reality of the research is clearly reflected in the press release available on its website. By stating and treating interpretations of the UKM study results as tantamount to slander (fitnah), InMind has failed to maintain objectivity and implies failure to maintain the confidentiality of the research respondents. I maintain that it is also not impossible for school students to be involved in sex, stealing, gambling or secret societies without their parents having any idea of what's going on in their children's lives. To all parents out there: Put your hands up if you've asked your son/ daughter lately whether they have had sex (a few brave hands raised I'm sure), stealing, gambling or secret societies. What your parents don't ask, you won't have to lie about.
I certainly welcome the invitation from Norizan for me to have a look at the data and discuss the research with him.
In defending the MB, the writer stated very clearly that Dr. Mohd Khir had been misquoted and that there were factual errors in the report. The strangest thing is that these articles, supposedly misquoting the MB, are displayed on the Menteri Besar's website (http://www.mbselangor.net.my/modules.php?name=English) with the English version actually having the tabloid article front and centre to the frontpage. If they were factually wrong and misrepresenting the MB as claimed by Norizan, why on earth would they be published so prominently on the MB's website in the first place? The MB's office may not even have considered or treated this article as a misquotation nor a misrepresentation of what was said in last week's press conference.
It also seems strange that information obtained by the media from Norizan during the press conference could be attributed incorrectly or, to use the convenient term, instead become a 'misquote' of the Menteri Besar. For several newspapers and the national wire service, to all get it wrong or 'misquoting' together is a little tough, I think. Is this another case of somebody else taking the blame and conducting damage control for what one of our politicians said or assumed?
In addition to that, though Norizan stated that the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) study was requested and commissioned by InMind, the fact is that this study is used to develop a programme module for youths titled Bina Insan supported and financed by the Selangor State Government as stated in InMind's own press release on its website (http://www.inmind.com.my).
It is also unfortunate that the writer did not deign to address the fundamental issues of gender bias in the development of social policy and the need to address the reality of sexual activity and vulnerability among young people.
The inability of InMind itself to accept the reality of the research is clearly reflected in the press release available on its website. By stating and treating interpretations of the UKM study results as tantamount to slander (fitnah), InMind has failed to maintain objectivity and implies failure to maintain the confidentiality of the research respondents. I maintain that it is also not impossible for school students to be involved in sex, stealing, gambling or secret societies without their parents having any idea of what's going on in their children's lives. To all parents out there: Put your hands up if you've asked your son/ daughter lately whether they have had sex (a few brave hands raised I'm sure), stealing, gambling or secret societies. What your parents don't ask, you won't have to lie about.
I certainly welcome the invitation from Norizan for me to have a look at the data and discuss the research with him.
Sunday, 4 March 2007
The UKM study, sex and the Selangor MB
Referring to the recent report concerning the UKM study titled “High-Risk Female Youth Profile” commissioned by the Selangor State Government, I am amused, dismayed and disgusted at the reaction of the Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Khir Toyo to the results of the research.
Though unsurprising and amusing in his dismissal of the results (he was quoted in several reports as saying that the findings were lies and the study being rubbish), he is symptomatic of how bad our politicians and policy makers have become ostriches with their heads stuck in the sands of ignorance. Despite this research (which the State Government itself commissioned) being only one of many different studies over the years which have examined, among others, the issue of premarital sexual intercourse, his reaction indicates that he, like many others, continue to be blissfully unaware and dismissive of the many challenges faced by both young Malaysian women and men growing up in today’s society. Our country’s young people continue to be deprived of proper sexual reproductive health information needed to protect themselves as a result of society’s and politicians’ need to be seen as morally pure. Sex education is often deemed ‘inappropriate’, ‘giving ideas’, ‘not necessary because we have religion’, ‘Western’ and countless other excuses for which the subject is not properly taught in school. Not too long ago, a Director General of the Ministry of Education dismissed the need for this subject because he felt that our students didn’t have sex and thus it was irrelevant to teach the topic. The price we pay for this neglect is the increasingly vulnerable situations faced by young people of which early sexual activity is only one. Sexual violence, such as gang rape, which seems to be on the increase, is another.
Even the current framework for sexual reproductive health education which is soon to be implemented in the Malaysian education system, is, I believe, doomed for failure. After many long years of waiting and several generations of students, what has been proposed instead of a single dedicated syllabus is the integration of this issue into several other subjects such as science, health, Islamic studies and biology subjects. It is already hard enough to find one teacher for each school who is equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge as well as with the right attitude, objectivity and most importantly, being non-judgmental. Try training several teachers of different subjects (who must overcome their own shyness, prejudice and inadequacies in the subject) and you can see that, in reality, the whole exercise will be ‘lost in translation’.
Listening in dismay to our politicians and community leaders speak of the need for chastity belts, enforcement of women’s wear covering ‘areas of temptation’ (e.g. hair), of indecent clothing resulting in denial of access to government services, and of why girls are themselves to be blamed for sexual criminal acts such as rape, I am certainly not surprised that politicians have a somewhat simplistic view concerning the perceived deterioration of values in Malaysian society. Somehow, boys and men don’t appear very often, if at all, in this view. Rights and responsibilities in issues such as sex education involve both boys and girls. The fact that a study was commissioned by his State Government to only examine the behaviour of girls implies and is indicative of the mentality and mindset that the perceived “deterioration of moral values” and the problems of society are one sided affairs with the finger of blame conveniently pointed at the targets of this study. Where are the boys in this picture?
I can assure our Selangor Menteri Besar that the results and analysis are very much true and is the reality which is faced by countless of school counselors desperate for proper assistance in providing psychological and emotional support to the hundreds of girls and boys considered delinquent or high risk. If he had done his homework, the Menteri Besar would have discovered the findings of the Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health 2003 report by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN). They indicate that the lack of knowledge and awareness of sexual reproductive health information among teenagers in Malaysia has resulted in 27 percent of youth (boys and girls) already having had premarital sex. Young men have been found to be actively looking for sex workers for their first sexual experience and individuals as young as nine have had sex. The Second National Health and Morbidity Study (1996) found that two percent of 30,000 secondary school students from 708 schools surveyed have had sexual experience. Another national study on reproductive health of adolescents in Malaysia conducted by LPPKN in 1994 found that 20 percent of young people had their first sexual intercourse between 15 – 18 years old. Narrowing the sample of research to only those classified in the category of ‘high risk delinquents’ will dramatically increase the percentage. Whether as an act of rebellion against social and religious norms or even one’s parents; discovery and exploring of one’s body and sexuality; seeking pleasure or comfort; sexual abuse by family members, friends or strangers; sexual activity among young men and women in Malaysia is a fact and today’s reality.
However, our politicians are used to believing and enforcing their own versions of reality. Whether it is analysis of equity in the national economy or the understanding of social problems, it seems that when they don’t like the results of the research, they change it and the perception of reality to suit their assumptions and beliefs. There is a trend of politicians disbelieving research and evidence (and proud of it!) in the development of our national policies. The report of the Menteri Besar ordering the UKM researcher to ‘correct’ his findings is an example of this disappointing attitude.
However, most importantly, I was disgusted and alarmed at the action taken in response to the announcement of the findings whereupon the State Government took upon itself the task of ‘verifying’ the results of the research in an effort to prove the analysis wrong. Government officers were reportedly ordered to contact the respondents of the study to determine whether or not they in fact had sex. This action represents a violation of research ethics and a desecration of the sanctity of confidentiality under which such studies are conducted. The fact that the officers were able to get hold of the contact details and later interrogated the girls who were part of the study is despicable. This action should be condemned by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, other institutions of higher learning, and all individual researchers whose work depends on ensuring the confidentiality and identity of those who partake in any kind of research, particularly concerning those who are marginalized by society.
Though unsurprising and amusing in his dismissal of the results (he was quoted in several reports as saying that the findings were lies and the study being rubbish), he is symptomatic of how bad our politicians and policy makers have become ostriches with their heads stuck in the sands of ignorance. Despite this research (which the State Government itself commissioned) being only one of many different studies over the years which have examined, among others, the issue of premarital sexual intercourse, his reaction indicates that he, like many others, continue to be blissfully unaware and dismissive of the many challenges faced by both young Malaysian women and men growing up in today’s society. Our country’s young people continue to be deprived of proper sexual reproductive health information needed to protect themselves as a result of society’s and politicians’ need to be seen as morally pure. Sex education is often deemed ‘inappropriate’, ‘giving ideas’, ‘not necessary because we have religion’, ‘Western’ and countless other excuses for which the subject is not properly taught in school. Not too long ago, a Director General of the Ministry of Education dismissed the need for this subject because he felt that our students didn’t have sex and thus it was irrelevant to teach the topic. The price we pay for this neglect is the increasingly vulnerable situations faced by young people of which early sexual activity is only one. Sexual violence, such as gang rape, which seems to be on the increase, is another.
Even the current framework for sexual reproductive health education which is soon to be implemented in the Malaysian education system, is, I believe, doomed for failure. After many long years of waiting and several generations of students, what has been proposed instead of a single dedicated syllabus is the integration of this issue into several other subjects such as science, health, Islamic studies and biology subjects. It is already hard enough to find one teacher for each school who is equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge as well as with the right attitude, objectivity and most importantly, being non-judgmental. Try training several teachers of different subjects (who must overcome their own shyness, prejudice and inadequacies in the subject) and you can see that, in reality, the whole exercise will be ‘lost in translation’.
Listening in dismay to our politicians and community leaders speak of the need for chastity belts, enforcement of women’s wear covering ‘areas of temptation’ (e.g. hair), of indecent clothing resulting in denial of access to government services, and of why girls are themselves to be blamed for sexual criminal acts such as rape, I am certainly not surprised that politicians have a somewhat simplistic view concerning the perceived deterioration of values in Malaysian society. Somehow, boys and men don’t appear very often, if at all, in this view. Rights and responsibilities in issues such as sex education involve both boys and girls. The fact that a study was commissioned by his State Government to only examine the behaviour of girls implies and is indicative of the mentality and mindset that the perceived “deterioration of moral values” and the problems of society are one sided affairs with the finger of blame conveniently pointed at the targets of this study. Where are the boys in this picture?
I can assure our Selangor Menteri Besar that the results and analysis are very much true and is the reality which is faced by countless of school counselors desperate for proper assistance in providing psychological and emotional support to the hundreds of girls and boys considered delinquent or high risk. If he had done his homework, the Menteri Besar would have discovered the findings of the Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health 2003 report by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN). They indicate that the lack of knowledge and awareness of sexual reproductive health information among teenagers in Malaysia has resulted in 27 percent of youth (boys and girls) already having had premarital sex. Young men have been found to be actively looking for sex workers for their first sexual experience and individuals as young as nine have had sex. The Second National Health and Morbidity Study (1996) found that two percent of 30,000 secondary school students from 708 schools surveyed have had sexual experience. Another national study on reproductive health of adolescents in Malaysia conducted by LPPKN in 1994 found that 20 percent of young people had their first sexual intercourse between 15 – 18 years old. Narrowing the sample of research to only those classified in the category of ‘high risk delinquents’ will dramatically increase the percentage. Whether as an act of rebellion against social and religious norms or even one’s parents; discovery and exploring of one’s body and sexuality; seeking pleasure or comfort; sexual abuse by family members, friends or strangers; sexual activity among young men and women in Malaysia is a fact and today’s reality.
However, our politicians are used to believing and enforcing their own versions of reality. Whether it is analysis of equity in the national economy or the understanding of social problems, it seems that when they don’t like the results of the research, they change it and the perception of reality to suit their assumptions and beliefs. There is a trend of politicians disbelieving research and evidence (and proud of it!) in the development of our national policies. The report of the Menteri Besar ordering the UKM researcher to ‘correct’ his findings is an example of this disappointing attitude.
However, most importantly, I was disgusted and alarmed at the action taken in response to the announcement of the findings whereupon the State Government took upon itself the task of ‘verifying’ the results of the research in an effort to prove the analysis wrong. Government officers were reportedly ordered to contact the respondents of the study to determine whether or not they in fact had sex. This action represents a violation of research ethics and a desecration of the sanctity of confidentiality under which such studies are conducted. The fact that the officers were able to get hold of the contact details and later interrogated the girls who were part of the study is despicable. This action should be condemned by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, other institutions of higher learning, and all individual researchers whose work depends on ensuring the confidentiality and identity of those who partake in any kind of research, particularly concerning those who are marginalized by society.
Bernama report: Laporan Kajian Remaja Perempuan Pernah Lakukan Seks Tidak Tepat
BERNAMA: Laporan Kajian Remaja Perempuan Pernah Lakukan Seks Tidak Tepat
Date: Saturday, March 03 @ 11:27:20
SHAH ALAM, 1 Mac (Bernama) -- Laporan kajian Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) yang mendapati kesemua 887 pelajar perempuan yang menuntut di sekolah menengah di sebuah negeri kecuali seorang, mengaku pernah melakukan hubungan seks adalah tidak tepat, kata Menteri Besar Selangor Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo.
"Itulah yang kita lihat satu tindakan yang ambil mudah sahaja dan akhirnya akan timbulkan kekecohan dan masalah...jadi saya tak gembira dengan kajian tersebut," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Hotel Carlton Holiday di sini.
Beliau diminta mengulas mengenai hasil kajian yang dijalankan Pakar Psikologi Kanak-Kanak dan Remaja dari UKM Dr Khaidzir Ismail melalui "Kajian Profil Remaja Perempuan Risiko Tinggi Atau Bermasalah".
Kajian itu dilakukan berdasarkan inisiatif kerajaan Selangor yang menyedari mengenai kemerosotan moral golongan remaja di negeri itu berdasarkan kepada pendedahan yang sering dibuat media.
Katanya setelah beliau meneliti hasil kajian itu sendiri dan menerimanya daripada pengkaji tersebut didapati ada beberapa fakta seperti jumlah populasi penduduk di negeri ini tidak selari dan tidak tepat serta tiada definisi tepat mengenai perkataan "seks" dalam penghuraian kaedah kajian itu.
"Dia sepatutnya kena bincang dengan kita dulu sebelum buat kajian itu...dia punya jumlah penduduk pun tak betul...muka surat pertama tulis 4.1 juta, muka kedua pula kata 4.7 juta...tu belum buka muka surat ketiga lagi.
"Dan soalan mengenai seks...ada orang kata tersentuh mulut dah buat seks ...dan laga hidungpun dah seks...jadi kita kena tengok...definisi seks pun tak betul," katanya.
Melalui kajian selama tiga bulan yang berakhir Disember tahun lepas itu membabitkan pelajar menengah terdiri daripada tingkatan satu hingga lima, sebanyak 20 orang pelajar berisiko tinggi daripada setiap sekolah dipilih kaunselor sekolah masing-masing sebagai responden.
Kajian itu juga mendapati 98 peratus daripada mereka mengaku mengambil dadah, terlibat dalam kongsi gelap (98 peratus), bahan lucah (97.3 peratus), berjudi (96.8 peratus), vandalisme (85.4 peratus) dan ponteng sekolah (77.2 peratus).
-- BERNAMA
Date: Saturday, March 03 @ 11:27:20
SHAH ALAM, 1 Mac (Bernama) -- Laporan kajian Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) yang mendapati kesemua 887 pelajar perempuan yang menuntut di sekolah menengah di sebuah negeri kecuali seorang, mengaku pernah melakukan hubungan seks adalah tidak tepat, kata Menteri Besar Selangor Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo.
"Itulah yang kita lihat satu tindakan yang ambil mudah sahaja dan akhirnya akan timbulkan kekecohan dan masalah...jadi saya tak gembira dengan kajian tersebut," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Hotel Carlton Holiday di sini.
Beliau diminta mengulas mengenai hasil kajian yang dijalankan Pakar Psikologi Kanak-Kanak dan Remaja dari UKM Dr Khaidzir Ismail melalui "Kajian Profil Remaja Perempuan Risiko Tinggi Atau Bermasalah".
Kajian itu dilakukan berdasarkan inisiatif kerajaan Selangor yang menyedari mengenai kemerosotan moral golongan remaja di negeri itu berdasarkan kepada pendedahan yang sering dibuat media.
Katanya setelah beliau meneliti hasil kajian itu sendiri dan menerimanya daripada pengkaji tersebut didapati ada beberapa fakta seperti jumlah populasi penduduk di negeri ini tidak selari dan tidak tepat serta tiada definisi tepat mengenai perkataan "seks" dalam penghuraian kaedah kajian itu.
"Dia sepatutnya kena bincang dengan kita dulu sebelum buat kajian itu...dia punya jumlah penduduk pun tak betul...muka surat pertama tulis 4.1 juta, muka kedua pula kata 4.7 juta...tu belum buka muka surat ketiga lagi.
"Dan soalan mengenai seks...ada orang kata tersentuh mulut dah buat seks ...dan laga hidungpun dah seks...jadi kita kena tengok...definisi seks pun tak betul," katanya.
Melalui kajian selama tiga bulan yang berakhir Disember tahun lepas itu membabitkan pelajar menengah terdiri daripada tingkatan satu hingga lima, sebanyak 20 orang pelajar berisiko tinggi daripada setiap sekolah dipilih kaunselor sekolah masing-masing sebagai responden.
Kajian itu juga mendapati 98 peratus daripada mereka mengaku mengambil dadah, terlibat dalam kongsi gelap (98 peratus), bahan lucah (97.3 peratus), berjudi (96.8 peratus), vandalisme (85.4 peratus) dan ponteng sekolah (77.2 peratus).
-- BERNAMA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
