The Health Ministry has rejected accusations that allocations to non-governmental groups providing information, education and care services relating to HIV and Aids have been slashed.

It said the allocation for the awareness programmes had exceeded the RM40 million the government was committed to disburse under a memorandum of understanding signed in 2003 for a period of 10 years.

Ketua Puteri Umno, Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin "This year, a total of RM5.3 million has been approved through the Malaysian Aids Council (MAC) to support the activities of the NGOs, (which is) RM50,000 less compared with last year's allocation of RM5.35 million.

"Thus, including the 2012 Budget, total funds given by the government from 2003 has reached RM64,889,500, a surplus of approximately RM25 million or 65 percent (of the agreed amount)," Deputy Health Minister Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin ( left ) said in a statement yesterday.

Rosnah was responding to allegations by MAC, which represents NGOs involved in Aids awareness programmes, that their funding was being cut without valid reasons.

NONE Earlier yesterday, MAC vice-president Hisham Hussein ( right ) told a press conference at the Parliament lobby that the budget cuts have resulted in the closure of several programmes and syringe needle exchange programme centres nationwide.

"The MoH is placing importance on the annual reports submitted by the NGOs, but these NGOs are more focused on groundwork and some may not know what the right format is for the reports.

"Stating the lack of reporting as an excuse does not hold water and will impact on the livelihood of the programme implementers.

"Many of them are community members who have made great inroads by leaving behind their former lifestyles and have put themselves at greater risk of HIV infections," said Hisham.

Undivided support

NONE Klang DAP MP Charles Santiago, who was also present at the press conference, said it was injudicious of the ministry to slash funding on such petty grounds.

However, Rosnah in her statement said the government "has always acknowledged" the pivotal roles of NGOs in fighting against HIV/Aids.

"This undivided support has been translated through a funding scheme channelled through MAC every year," said Rosnah, adding that applications for new projects and programmes would be subjected to approval by the Technical Review Panel (TRP).

"Many aspects are evaluated (including the) progress of projects and budget status. Some of the new projects do not have value for money (or were) extremely costly, compared with similar projects managed by other NGOs and were hence rejected by the panel.

"Some of the existing projects were poor in sending progress and budget reports, and some did not sent any report at all, making it difficult for the TRP to evaluate and support the projects," she explained.

Rosnah added that MAC had been well-informed about the funding slashes at a meeting with the Health Ministry deputy director-general on Jan 26, and it was MAC's duty to inform the NGOs associated with it.

"Of 74 proposals received, 34 are existing projects and 40 are new projects. A total of 27 projects have been approved for 2012, of which 22 are existing projects and five new projects.

"Therefore, the allegation that Health Ministry did not give an answer as to why the funding for some of the projects was stopped is not true," stressed Rosnah.