《中英對照讀新聞》Malaysia Denies Religious Pressure on AIDS馬來西亞否認在愛滋病問題上受到宗教壓力

◎ 羅彥傑

Malaysia denied it is holding off on the distribution of free needles and condoms to drug addicts because of opposition from Islamic religious groups.

馬來西亞否認因為伊斯蘭宗教團體的反對，而停止免費分發針頭與保險套給吸毒成癮者。

Health Minister Chua Soi Lek said the program was crucial to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS but the government needed time to implement it.

衛生部長蔡細歷說，這項計畫對於遏制愛滋病毒╱愛滋病的蔓延至為重要，但政府需要時間落實。

The local media reported that the program had been put on hold after some Islamic groups said it will give the impression that the authorities condone drug use and casual sex.

當地媒體報導說，若干伊斯蘭團體表示這項計畫會造成當局縱容嗑藥與縱慾的印象後，這項計畫已遭擱置。

Chua said a six-month pilot project to supply free needles and condoms to 1,200 drug users at selected ``hot spots'' in four cities _ Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, Penang and Kuantan _ will start in January.

蔡說，為期半年、在四大城市–吉隆坡、新山、檳城與關丹–的特定「熱門地點」提供免費針頭與保險套給1200名吸毒者的試點計畫，將自元月展開。

Chua cited a 1998 government study among 6,326 addicts in 26 rehabilitation centers in the country, which revealed that 65 percent of them were intravenous drug users, injecting drugs more than three times a day and sharing needles with more than five people.

蔡提到1998年政府對全國26間勒戒中心的6326名吸毒者進行的一項研究，顯示其中有65%經由靜脈注射毒品，一天注射毒品超過3次，而且會和超過5人共用針頭。

The study showed that 77.6 percent of the intravenous drug users were sexually active, with only 18.7 percent using condoms during sex.

研究顯示，77.6%經由靜脈注射毒品者性生活活躍，僅18.7%在性行為中使用保險套。

新聞辭典

addict：有癮的人，如 drug addict 是吸毒成癮者，computer game addict 是對電玩上癮的人，alcohol addict 是有酒癮者。

hold off：阻止、抵擋。例句：They held off the attacks of a strong enemy.（他們抵擋住強大敵軍的攻勢。）

pilot：當名詞時多指駕駛員、飛行員，當形容詞時則指試驗性的、小規模的。

rehabilitation：康復、改造、復建。rehabilitation center of drug addicts指吸毒勒戒中心。