M’sian AIDS Council: Stop stigmatising those living with HIV

KUCHING (Dec 9): The Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) is calling upon political leaders, policymakers, public commentators and media practitioners to avoid framing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in ways that stigmatise individuals or communities.

The council, in a statement, called for a renewed focus on the broader national objective, namely ending AIDS in Malaysia by 2030 as outlined in the Ministry of Health (MoH)’s ‘National Strategic Plan to End AIDS’.

“The integrity of Malaysia’s public health achievements and our ambition to realise an AIDS-free generation depends on maintaining an environment where people feel safe to access prevention, testing and treatment services without fear of reprisal,” it said.

The statement was issued in response to what the council described as the ‘increasingly hostile tone’ emerging in recent public discussions relating to HIV and AIDS.

MAC said such narratives, often shaped by misinformation, fear and stigma, could risk reinforcing harmful stereotypes about communities disproportionately affected by HIV.

Highlighting a crucial scientific fact, it said ‘Undetectable = Untransmissible (U=U)’ means when a person living with HIV receives timely and effective anti-retroviral treatment, the person’s viral load can be suppressed to an undetectable level.

“At this stage, HIV cannot be sexually transmitted to another person. This is a cornerstone of modern HIV prevention and should guide a more informed public understanding around HIV transmission risks.

“Using an individual’s HIV status, their medical treatment or the use of prevention tools such as condoms or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as grounds for insinuation, intimidation or prosecution is not only unethical but detrimental to public health,” it said.

“Such practices discourage people from seeking testing and treatment, placing both individuals and the wider community at greater risk.”

According to the MAC, Malaysia has made remarkable progress in the national HIV response over the past three decades, with advances in medical science having transformed HIV from a fatal condition into a manageable chronic illness.

Despite this progress, it expressed regret that certain segments of the public discourse continued to disregard scientific evidence; instead, they amplified fear and prejudice.

“Malaysia has long been recognised globally for its leadership in Harm Reduction.

“Under the stewardship of the MoH, our country has been acknowledged for implementing evidence-based interventions in HIV prevention and care whilst carefully navigating cultural and religious sensitivities.

“This balanced approach has been instrumental in reducing new infections and expanding access to treatment and prevention services,” it said.

The MAC said heavy-handed enforcement actions, coupled with the tendency of certain parties to sensationalise incidents and to deploy HIV/AIDS as a false dichotomy to create fear, could further alienate the very communities that national prevention efforts must reach.

The council viewed such approach as ‘counterproductive and not aligned with public health principles, nor with the position previously articulated by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim)’.

The council extended its appreciation to all civil society partners, healthcare workers and supporters who had voiced out their commitment to a compassionate, evidence-based HIV response.

“The MAC calls upon all parties to refrain from actions that intimidate key populations, and instead work together in strengthening access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, so that Malaysia remains firmly on track to end AIDS by 2030.”