Stop normalising immorality, minister says over student HIV cases

Normalising immoral behaviour in the name of personal freedom must be stopped, said Na’im Mokhtar, who expressed concern over the rise in HIV cases among students.

The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) said 1,091 students from institutions of higher learning were diagnosed with the virus from 2020-2024.

This included 222 new cases last year, he said, adding that society must come together to restore moral and spiritual values.

“This data is heartbreaking. Most cases involve teenagers aged 18 to 19. As the minister responsible for religious affairs, I am deeply troubled by this growing trend.

“Youths must preserve their dignity and hold firmly to moral values. Religion is not just knowledge to be learned, but a guide for daily life. Live by principles, not by following the crowd,” he said in a Facebook post.

Na’im stressed that education, awareness, and enforcement must go hand in hand to address the issue effectively. He called on religious agencies, NGOs, and educational institutions to join forces to protect the country’s future generation.

The statistics were disclosed by Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni at a press conference after launching the 2025 Media Roundtable Conference on Harm Reduction in Kuala Lumpur last Tuesday.

Lukanisman also acknowledged the challenges faced by minors in accessing HIV self-test kits and follow-up treatment, due to the absence of legal provisions allowing screening without parental consent.

- Bernama

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