Materia Medica Malaysiana

HIV test for Muslim couples in Perak, too

IPOH: Perak will make it mandatory for Muslim couples to undergo a HIV test before their marriage – the third state to do so.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Tajol Rosli Ghazali said this was decided at the state Religious Council meeting chaired by Raja Muda of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah here.
The meeting has in principle agreed to make it mandatory for Muslim couples to undergo testing to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus and AIDS.
Tajol Rosli said the HIV test would be incorporated into the Perak Muslim Marriage and Divorce Enactment.
Johor and Perlis had made a similar decision earlier this year.
Tajol Rosli, however, said the enforcement date of the new ruling would be announced after the state legal adviser and religious department completed their studies on legal implications.
He said the study, among other things, would look into the methods used by other states to ensure the implementation would be standardised.
“Like other states, couples who test positive for HIV will not be barred from getting married if they still insist on doing so.
“In such cases, the bride and bridegroom need to attend counselling sessions and the families of both sides will be notified,” he told reporters after attending the state Religious Council meeting yesterday.
Tajol Rosli said besides the HIV test, the other prerequisite imposed by the council was the premarital courses.
He said that the state Religious Department would be sending all its 200 part-time enforcement officers to undergo special training from next month.
“The training is to ensure our religious enforcement officers act within their jurisdiction when carrying out their duties to prevent any controversy,'' he said.