Malaysia Denies Holding Off Free Condoms Plan in Fight Against AIDS

On Sunday, Malaysia denied that it is delaying plans to distribute free needles and condoms to drug users due to opposition from Islamic religious groups. "The staff have to be trained and educated properly before this program can be introduced," said Health Minister Chua Soi Lek.

The six-month pilot program to supply free needles and condoms to 1,200 IV drug users in four cities -- Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, Penang, and Kuantan -- will begin in January, said Chua. A methadone substitution program for highly addicted users will begin next month, he said.

Local media reported Saturday that the program was put on hold after some Islamic groups complained that it would give the impression that the government condones drug use and casual sex.

The government estimates there are 280,000 drug addicts in Malaysia's 26 million population, of which 130,000 are IV drug users. "But of course, going by the worldwide trend, for every one drug user identified there are four unidentified," said Chua. "So in total, we should have about 1 million drug users and more than 400,000 intravenous drug users."

Chua cited a 1998 government study of 6,326 addicts in 26 rehabilitation centers across Malaysia, which showed that 65 percent of them were IV drug users, injecting drugs more than three times a day and sharing needles with more than five people. The study found that 77.6 percent of the IV drug users were sexually active, but only 18.7 percent reported using condoms during intercourse.

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