The Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) has moved to quell public perception that the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) is against people living with HIV/AIDS, following the controversial raid by religious enforcement personnel on a programme organised by a social welfare NGO last week.
This comes on the heels of the disclosure that the programme disrupted by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) - which is governed by Mais - over claims that Muslims involved in it were being subjected to Christian proselytising - was actually a fund-raiser for HIV/AIDS support programmes.
In a statement issued late yesterday, MAC said Mais had established close cooperation with MAC to address social, welfare and community issues related to HIV/AIDS and to provide financial and other support to people living with HIV/AIDS, especially in the Klang Valley and Selangor area.
"Mais is one of the religious councils that comes forward to provide assistance to people living with HIV by funding shelter homes with the zakat fund,” said MAC president Mohd Zaman Khan, a former federal criminal investigations department director, as saying.
MAC said it had in turn provided training for Mais religious officers to understand the challenges and issues faced by people living with or are exposed to HIV/AIDS.
Among the joint initiatives that have been undertaken by Mais and MAC were programmes, media campaigns and spiritual programmes that involved get-togethers with marginalised communities.
Mais has also carried out activities with trans-gender groups and other communities by providing care and treatment information as well as religious consultation.
"Mais' concern is proven with the establishment of two shelter homes for people living with HIV, including Rumah Istana in Kuang, Selangor, and Rumah Darul Ukhwah in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, which cost RM750,000 annually.
“Both the homes accommodate some 50 people and are fully-funded by Mais," said Mohd Zaman.
Citing other programmes to assist people living with HIV, MAC said these clearly showed that the council was concerned about health and welfare issues related to HIV/AIDS, particularly within the Muslim society.
Mohd Zaman also called on other religious departments to replicate Mais' efforts to help people living with HIV in Malaysia.
Two days after the raid on the dinner held at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) last week, MAC had clarified that the dinner was actually a fundraiser for NGO Harapan Komuniti's HIV/AIDS support programmes.
Selangor state exco member Hasan Ali, who is in charge of religious affairs, had claimed that Jais found evidence of proselytising when it disrupted the event that evening.
"It was intended to raise funds to support Harapan Komuniti, whose primary aim was to help Malaysians living with HIV, regardless of their ethnic and religious backgrounds,” Mohd Zaman said further.
The '1Malaysia Muhibbah Fundraising Dinner', Mohd Zaman reiterated, was meant to help provide financial assistance to the underprivileged as well as to give support for proper medication, treatment and care.
Harapan Komuniti is a partner organisation of MAC, which also provides educational assistance to underprivileged children in Kuala Lumpur and Johor. - Malaysiakini
This comes on the heels of the disclosure that the programme disrupted by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) - which is governed by Mais - over claims that Muslims involved in it were being subjected to Christian proselytising - was actually a fund-raiser for HIV/AIDS support programmes.
In a statement issued late yesterday, MAC said Mais had established close cooperation with MAC to address social, welfare and community issues related to HIV/AIDS and to provide financial and other support to people living with HIV/AIDS, especially in the Klang Valley and Selangor area.
"Mais is one of the religious councils that comes forward to provide assistance to people living with HIV by funding shelter homes with the zakat fund,” said MAC president Mohd Zaman Khan, a former federal criminal investigations department director, as saying.
MAC said it had in turn provided training for Mais religious officers to understand the challenges and issues faced by people living with or are exposed to HIV/AIDS.
Among the joint initiatives that have been undertaken by Mais and MAC were programmes, media campaigns and spiritual programmes that involved get-togethers with marginalised communities.
Mais has also carried out activities with trans-gender groups and other communities by providing care and treatment information as well as religious consultation.
"Mais' concern is proven with the establishment of two shelter homes for people living with HIV, including Rumah Istana in Kuang, Selangor, and Rumah Darul Ukhwah in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, which cost RM750,000 annually.
“Both the homes accommodate some 50 people and are fully-funded by Mais," said Mohd Zaman.
Citing other programmes to assist people living with HIV, MAC said these clearly showed that the council was concerned about health and welfare issues related to HIV/AIDS, particularly within the Muslim society.
Mohd Zaman also called on other religious departments to replicate Mais' efforts to help people living with HIV in Malaysia.
Two days after the raid on the dinner held at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) last week, MAC had clarified that the dinner was actually a fundraiser for NGO Harapan Komuniti's HIV/AIDS support programmes.
Selangor state exco member Hasan Ali, who is in charge of religious affairs, had claimed that Jais found evidence of proselytising when it disrupted the event that evening.
"It was intended to raise funds to support Harapan Komuniti, whose primary aim was to help Malaysians living with HIV, regardless of their ethnic and religious backgrounds,” Mohd Zaman said further.
The '1Malaysia Muhibbah Fundraising Dinner', Mohd Zaman reiterated, was meant to help provide financial assistance to the underprivileged as well as to give support for proper medication, treatment and care.
Harapan Komuniti is a partner organisation of MAC, which also provides educational assistance to underprivileged children in Kuala Lumpur and Johor. - Malaysiakini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.