Across the board approval for the government's plan to distribute free needles and condoms to drug addicts to combat the country's rising HIV infection rate remains elusive with Muslim religious leaders failing to agree with the move at a dialogue.

The closed-door meet was held at Putrajaya yesterday and saw the attendance of 1,300 ulama, state muftis, fatwa and syariah officials plus representatives from the Malaysian Aids Council.

lso present were officials from the Health Ministry and the Prime Minister's Department.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an official from the Federal Territory Muftis Office said today the launch of planned harm-reduction programme 'is not finalised'.

He said the issue would be brought before the National Fatwa Council meeting next week for further deliberations.

Yesterday's dialogue was organised following doubts expressed by Islamic community leaders over the effectiveness of the free condom and needle programme. The event saw the Health Ministry explaining the nation's HIV/Aids state, its threat to the country, how the authorities would implement the programme, followed by question-and-answer session.

Health Minister Chua Soi Lek had before this announced that the free needles and condoms programme would start next January - a six-month pilot project involving 1,200 intravenous drug users - as part of the government efforts to fight the spread of Aids.

'Isolate Aids patients'

Under this harm reduction programme, free needles and condoms would be supplied through 20 selected government and private clinics nationwide. The programme was initially supposed to be implemented in October but was postponed.

An Islamic Development Department (Jakim) officer whom malaysiakini spoke to concurred that the dialogue 'did not reach a final decision of the programme'.

"One party is asking for an agreement but the other did not agree to this free distribution (of needles and condoms) because it will encourage free sex, which is haram (prohibited) in Islam," he said.

Johor Mufti Noh Gadot was of the similar opinion saying, "If we give free condoms to any HIV patient, it is as if we are condoning unrestricted sex, which is not allowed for us (Muslims)."

He said a similar rationale applied to the supply of free needles in that it would encourage drug addicts to continue their abuse.

Noh suggested that the HIV/Aids patients be quarantined and provided with proper medication as an alternative.