December 24, 2008

Malaysian Politico: Ban Positive People From Marriage

A top Malaysian politician told the press that HIV-positive Muslims and non-Muslims should not be able to get married, reports Reuters UK. He said this would keep them from having sick children.

Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, chief minister of northern Perak—one of 13 states in the country—was quoted as saying, “Somebody who is very sick like that should not be allowed to get married.” He added, “If there’s any breeding—sorry for having to use that word— the embryo will also carry the same virus. So that is even more unfair because you are actually passing that disease on to the child.”

These comments were in response to past remarks made from the Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, who said that all Muslim couples in peninsular Malaysia must undergo HIV screening before getting married.

In Malaysia, there are 76,389 reported cases of HIV. A 2006 survey showed that more housewives tested HIV positive than sex workers. The numbers of babies born with HIV has also increased, from 0.2 percent in 1991 to 1.4 percent in 2006.

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Previous Comments:

lee reconnu, monongahela, 2009-01-12 19:04:49
i feel that two poeple can make up there mind about childern and hiv ,being poz dont mean stupid

ConfusedGal, Malaysia, 2009-01-01 22:23:59
Well i was shocked thinking wtf isn't life with this condition enough that some arrogant idiot needs to say something like this as it only makes it more diffcult for us to lead a normal life with moron like this saying such things. Wonder if he would still say the same thing if he or someone he loved was positive. Welcome to MALAYSIA!

25yearsstillhere, Boston, 2008-12-27 01:36:49
I am positive (1983) man married in 1986 to s negative wife. I knew my IV drug use could put me at risk but did not test til 1991. I was shocked to find I was positive but happy my wife was negative thanks to safe sex. I initiated HAART in 1992 and traveled to Milan, Italy on advice of a Dr, to have children via a sperm washing technique pioneered in Brig and Woman's and tested in Milan via Dr. Semprini. I now have 2 healthy negative teenage girls and a negative wife. VERY uneducated Minister!!

Nzam, Malaysia, 2008-12-26 04:41:43
its sad to hear malaysian politician have this kind of attitude and mindset. Labelling themselves educated but the truth is far enough, Wish that people from outside malasia can assist Malaysia. people like Peter Staley,Regan Hofmann might change malaysian politician towards Aids. I belive thet there's a lot of people with HIV enjoying normal life. Malaysian politics keep saying bad thing about the west , but they should realy respect and learn from others.

Joe, USA, 2008-12-24 12:45:17
Having spent a fair amount of time in Malaysia (JB, KL, Malacca, etc) I can say that this doesn't surprise me. Many of those people are close minded, religious idiots. Not unlike our homegrown variety here in the US.