Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Lock them up, they're HIV positive!

Lock them up, that seems to be the idea of Perak Mentri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin. It is an outrageous suggestion and a reflection of his ignorance. AIDS is not spread through normal contacts nor is it a contagious disease, so what quarantine is he talking about? HIV carriers should not be treated like the lepers of the old days, where they were kept isolated on some deserted islands like Pulau Jerejak. Some HIV carriers have out lived ordinary people eg basketball player Magic Johnson who reportedly can do 200 push ups a day. He lives a healthy and normal life. Nizar, I am sure, means well but he must remember that he is a Mentri Besar and he cannot simply shoot off his mouth. People, especially his followers and admirers, take him seriously. Where's the compassion, tolerance and understanding that one can expect from a leader? What happens if it involves a family member, a friend or a colleague? Would he want to quarantine them too? But for the rest of us, his statement would probably be one of the most laughable jokes for the holiday season.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

duhhhhh!!

U've taken his statement out of context la sir..

furthermore, he has suggested more than that..only master spinner like u chose to ignore the whole fact..

perhaps, u r the one tht shud be considered as this festive season's most laughable stock!

voluptious lady.

Unknown said...

Dear Wong,

It is amazing that many people are still ignorant of AIDS after all these years.

It is sad that a leader did not take the time to read about the diseaseor seek advice from experts before giving a suggestion on how to deal with the disease as if he is an expert with Phd's on the disease. A leader must read first or consult his advisor if in doubt.

It is blunder like this that the rakyat will remember what type a leader a person is for many years to come.

You are right that as a leader the Perak MB should not make such a suggestion. I am sure he must be regretting by now and I surely hope he will not say he is misquoted by the press. That will be the worst blunder that he can make.

KTemoc said...

maybe the Perak Mufti, who had previously sprouted the same draconian opinion (among other nonsense he had been notorious for), has influenced MB Nizar?

Anonymous said...

Not only that this matter is not handled and treated professionally by Nizar, it is also not attended to religiously and fairly. As a moslem, he should reflect the good and noble teachings of the religion.

Such a horrendous decision is completely unbecoming of him.

Jalil

Anonymous said...

If Nizar sees himself as an Islamic leader, I challenge him to produce thhe authority or dalil (either naqli or aqli)in Islam that legitimises his decision.

Its totally unacceptable and pathetic of him to suggest that HIV patient be locked up.

Anonymous said...

Tak ke zalim kalau buat macam tu....

Anonymous said...

What a year end joke... I now realised that PAS leaders are so prone to making mistakes, starting from Husam on hudud and now Nizar on HIV.

Anonymous said...

Stigmatizing and gloating over HIV/AIDS patients can’t be the trait of the Muslim who is brought up upon the Islamic manners. A true Muslim can’t feel joy when he sees others’ misfortunes whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims.

Instead of gloating over the misfortune of the HIV positives, we should help them get proper care and treatment. Instead of stigmatizing them in public for a disease they may not have hand regarding being affected by it, why don’t we make du`aa’ for them!? Why don’t we ask Allah earnestly to shower them with His mercy!?

Once stigmatized and severely injured by the people of At-Ta’if, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) refused to pray against them although His Lord gave him the choice to take revenge as a result of injustice committed against him. To all this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) declared, “No, I shall beseech Allah to make from among their progeny a generation of true believers!” More than that, the Prophet prayed for them to be guided and for their unjust acts to be forgiven.

Above all, gloating over others’ misfortune is the manner of the unbelievers and hypocrites. Referring to this, Allah Almighty says, (If a lucky chance befall you, it is evil unto them, and if disaster strike you they rejoice thereat. But if ye persevere and keep from evil their guile will never harm you. Lo! Allah is Surrounding what they do.) (Aal-`Imran: 120)

Based on all what is mentioned above, we can conclude that it is not permissible to treat AIDS patients differently just because they have AIDS. Instead, such people should be kindly adapted and due rehabilitation treatment should be rendered to them to turn them into good citizens.

Abol

Anonymous said...

Hi Chun Wai,

Please find below an Islamic Ruling of a Religious Fatwa produced and declared by the Islamic Fiqh Academy on AIDS/HIV positive patients. You will note that, in conclusion, there is no need to isolate people infected with AIDS in quarantines. The patients need to be treated properly and orderly.

The Islamic Fiqh Academy regarding AIDS states:

After reviewing the researches submitted to it concerning Human Immunodeficiency Virus that causes AIDS and resolution 82 (13th of August) regarding that issue, and after listening to the discussions held in that respect, the Islamic Fiqh Academy decided on the following:

First, with respect to isolating the people inflected with AIDS in quarantines:

Medical information emphasizes that AIDS is not transferred to others by means of casual contact. A normal day-to-day handshake, breathing the same air or eating food prepared by someone infected with AIDS do not involve any risk of transmission of HIV. Also a mosquito bite or using toilet seats or the same swimming pool do not involve any risk of transmission.

Infection takes place in one of the following ways:

1. Having sex with an infected person.

2. Sharing intravenous needles, which are injected directly from one person's bloodstream into another's also involves risk of transmission of the HIV- this is the reason why many intravenous drug users have become infected. Likewise, using razors used by a person infected with AIDS involves risk of transmission.

3. Blood transfusion in which a large amount of blood is transferred from one person to another also involves risk of transmission of the disease.

4. Infected pregnant women [can] transfer the disease to their children either during the pregnancy or delivery. [According to a medic report, an HIV positive woman can transmit the virus to her baby during pregnancy, labour and delivery, and through breastfeeding. If she takes no preventive drugs and breastfeeds then the chance of her baby becoming infected is around 20-45%.]

Based on the above information, there is no need to isolate people infected with AIDS in quarantines. They should be treated within the framework recommended by medical specialists.

Ref: The Islamic Fiqh Academy regarding AIDS states:

After reviewing the researches submitted to it concerning Human Immunodeficiency Virus that causes AIDS and resolution 82 (13th of August) regarding that issue, and after listening to the discussions held in that respect, the Islamic Fiqh Academy decided on the following:

First, with respect to isolating the people inflected with AIDS in quarantines:

Medical information emphasizes that AIDS is not transferred to others by means of casual contact. A normal day-to-day handshake, breathing the same air or eating food prepared by someone infected with AIDS do not involve any risk of transmission of HIV. Also a mosquito bite or using toilet seats or the same swimming pool do not involve any risk of transmission.

Infection takes place in one of the following ways:

1. Having sex with an infected person.

2. Sharing intravenous needles, which are injected directly from one person's bloodstream into another's also involves risk of transmission of the HIV- this is the reason why many intravenous drug users have become infected. Likewise, using razors used by a person infected with AIDS involves risk of transmission.

3. Blood transfusion in which a large amount of blood is transferred from one person to another also involves risk of transmission of the disease.

4. Infected pregnant women [can] transfer the disease to their children either during the pregnancy or delivery. [According to a medic report, an HIV positive woman can transmit the virus to her baby during pregnancy, labour and delivery, and through breastfeeding. If she takes no preventive drugs and breastfeeds then the chance of her baby becoming infected is around 20-45%.]

Based on the above information, there is no need to isolate people infected with AIDS in quarantines. They should be treated within the framework recommended by medical specialists.

Ref: The Islamic Fiqh Academy regarding AIDS states:

After reviewing the researches submitted to it concerning Human Immunodeficiency Virus that causes AIDS and resolution 82 (13th of August) regarding that issue, and after listening to the discussions held in that respect, the Islamic Fiqh Academy decided on the following:

First, with respect to isolating the people inflected with AIDS in quarantines:

Medical information emphasizes that AIDS is not transferred to others by means of casual contact. A normal day-to-day handshake, breathing the same air or eating food prepared by someone infected with AIDS do not involve any risk of transmission of HIV. Also a mosquito bite or using toilet seats or the same swimming pool do not involve any risk of transmission.

Infection takes place in one of the following ways:

1. Having sex with an infected person.

2. Sharing intravenous needles, which are injected directly from one person's bloodstream into another's also involves risk of transmission of the HIV- this is the reason why many intravenous drug users have become infected. Likewise, using razors used by a person infected with AIDS involves risk of transmission.

3. Blood transfusion in which a large amount of blood is transferred from one person to another also involves risk of transmission of the disease.

4. Infected pregnant women [can] transfer the disease to their children either during the pregnancy or delivery. [According to a medic report, an HIV positive woman can transmit the virus to her baby during pregnancy, labour and delivery, and through breastfeeding. If she takes no preventive drugs and breastfeeds then the chance of her baby becoming infected is around 20-45%.]

Based on the above information, there is no need to isolate people infected with AIDS in quarantines. They should be treated within the framework recommended by medical specialists.

Roy

Ref: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?cid=1119503548200&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar%2FFatwaE%2FFatwaEAskTheScholar

Stephen Doss said...

Its kind of scary when a Chief Executive Officer of a state like Perak can say the silliest of things and get away with it.
It has been more than two decades now since the world was introduced to AIDS.
Much has been discussed and debated, but not one country has implemented what Nizar is now suggesting.
I fear where this country is being led to with more of these guys being elected.

Stephen Doss

Anonymous said...

Quarantine? Might as well recommend mass execution. Idiots. Just a level lower than the Nazis who killed the "undesirables" - the sick and the mentally retarded among others.

shankar~selina said...

Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin must be the product of the Malaysian education system. Will someone show him the light?

Unknown said...

Dear Wong,

The votes just came in.

The Perak MB statement to quarantine AIDS carriers did not win the MOST LAUGHABLE JOKES FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

That distinction goes to the Home Minister for his recent comments that the Sin Chew reporter was detained under the ISA for her own protection won the MOST LAUGHABLE JOKE FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON by a slim margin.

By the way, the Home Minister's joke also made it into the Malaysian Guiness Book of most laughable jokes!!!

Wishing you a BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. CHEERS BRO!

Anonymous said...

Kepada Anon,
Aduhhhh, saya amat tergelak
Besar membaca komen anda d
Yang mengatakan penulis telah
Spin dgn kenyataan yang telah dibuat oleh
Menteri Besar Perak . Mungkin Saudara Anon terlalu
Taksub sangat nak ' angkat' Menteri Besar
Perak sampai terlupa daratan. Siapa yang spin? Mungkin
Anda terlalu kyahal dengan politiking pihak
Pembangkang yang hanya suka untuk mencari publisti
Murahan. Inilah perangai mereka. Isu HIV pun tak pandai ulas
Tapi nak tunjuk belang pulak. MB Perak kena ingat - ini isu mengenai
Penyakit HIV dan kita perlu berhati - hati dalam memberikan sebarng komen dan jgn
Main belasah aja.

Anonymous said...

Menteri Besar Perak macam cuba nak dapatkan publisiti antarabangsa
Dalam isu ini. Isu HIV ini merupakan satu isu
Yang sensitif dan perlu ditangani dgn cara yang lebih halus
Dan holistik. Sepertimana yang kita sedia maklum HIV ini merebak
Disebabkan beberapa faktor. Ada pesakit HIV memang menjadi
Mangsa kerana atas kesilapan pihak lain. Malah kanak - kanak juga menjadi mangsa HIV
Tetapi kita perlu sedar adakah mereka bersalah ? Kita perlu
Mencari pendekatan untuk menangani isu ini dgn lebih efesyen dan bukanya
Membuat memberikan pandangan yang tak rasional seperti
Menteri Besar Perak. Cadangan beliau lebih
Menyakitkan hati orang.

Anonymous said...

Menteri Besar Perak sudah hilang akal dan perangainya macam orang kurang siuman.
Apa nak jadi ? Kenapa seorang Menteri Besar boleh berfikiran
Seperti ini ? Cukuplah - fikir fikirkanhlah sebelum
Anda dimalukan. Kita kecewa kerana seoarang MB boleh berikan
Idea seperti ini.

Saya... said...

yeah,

Like i said, field day for the likes of wong chun wais....

Saya... said...

Anon at 6.07pm

Ah Wai is memang a master spinner. He doesnt chose to ignore facts, he just Purposely ignores them or chooses only certain things to highlight.

Robert Teh said...

Chun Wai,

Pack up, give yourself a well-deserved break, go home, spend time with the family (especially the kids), have yourself a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

I think, we should just leave 'politics' aside for the next few days, to enjoy the festive lights and sights on the streets and shopping malls, drink a toast or two, and wish everyone (especially close friends and relatives) well for the coming New Year.

Cheers! to you Chun Wai and all your readers.

Anonymous said...

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year Chun Wai.

Yam Seng