Kelantan has recorded only 93 HIV cases, accounting for 2.48% of total cases in Malaysia, refuting claims that the state is the worst affected by “immoral practices.”
Deputy Menteri Besar Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said Ministry of Health data for 2023 shows Selangor leading with 1,062 cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur (357), Sabah (320), Penang (256), and Sarawak (248).
“These figures clearly dismiss the baseless accusations that Kelantan is the hardest-hit state.
Kelantan has consistently taken steps to protect society from moral decay by implementing Islamic-based policies, including the Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019, to curb unhealthy trends,” he said.
He stressed that such policies are not aimed at blind punishment but to safeguard public wellbeing from external negative ideologies.
Mohamed Fadzli also highlighted a significant shift in HIV transmission patterns over the past three decades: “In 1990, 61% of cases were due to intravenous drug use (IVDU). By 2024, 64% involved same-sex relations, 32% heterosexual relations, and only 3% IVDU,” he said.
