World AIDS Day 2009

The “Universal Access and Human Rights” World AIDS Day theme for the year 2009 encapsulated the

pledge made by global leaders to work towards maximising universal access to HIV and AIDS

prevention, treatment, and care; recognising these as fundamental human rights.

In conjunction with the month-long World AIDS Day celebration, Kuala Lumpur AIDS Support Services

(KLASS) and Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) jointly organised a World AIDS Day event at Wangsa

Walk Mall, Kuala Lumpur from 5th to 6th December 2009. The two-day event aimed at increasing

awareness about HIV/AIDS among the general public, while raising funds to benefit HIV treatment, care,

and support programmes run by KLASS. Stalls selling merchandise and books and game booths were set

up to encourage participation from mall-goers and other members of the public.

The event culminated in the opening ceremony officiated by special guest of honour, former premier

YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad. His wife and former First Lady, Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali

was also in attendance. A Lion Dance performance preceded the key note address delivered by YABhg

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad himself, and speeches by YBhg. Dato’ Ir. Low Keng Kok (KLASS Trustee),

and YBhg Prof. Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman (MAF Chairman). Other highlights from the ceremony

included performances by kindergarten school children and celebrities such as Yise Loo & Aric Ho

(KLASS Ambassadors) and Dayang Nurfaizah (Red Ribbon Celebrity Supporter).

The World AIDS Day event achieved its goals and additionally provided a platform for individuals,

communities and political leaders alike to engage in a public dialogue to address issues related to HIV

prevention and those that affect people living with HIV.

International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) holds first Law

Enforcement Seminar in Malaysia

The Malaysian AIDs Council, under the leadership of Datuk Mohd Zaman Khan and in partnership with

IDPC Law Enforcement project organized its first seminar in December 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

for the Royal Malaysia Police Force.

This seminar was proposed by the IDPC as a means of engaging senior law enforcement officials in

promoting the integration of harm reduction policies into law enforcement activities. This seminar was

attended by 29 senior Royal Malaysia Police Officers, four AADK officers, eight RELA personnel and six

staff of the MAC.

It covered a wide range of topics including talks by people living with HIV, a presentation by Dr Alex

Wodak and a number of sessions led by Tom Lloyd QPM MA(Oxon), former UK Chief Constable, who

leads the IDPC project, on how law enforcement can work more effectively with other agencies to improve

their harm reduction performance. The participants contributed enthusiastically to the debates and

produced an impressive list of 34 recommendations that have been incorporated in the report on the

seminar for the attention of the Royal Malaysia Police senior leadership.

In support of the evidence based Malaysian Harm Reduction programme, the seminar

participants also acknowledged the fact that harm reduction will indeed lower crime levels

and favour decriminalisation of drug users. Emphasis was laid on the need to conduct a fresh

review of the action plan with clear priorities, accountability and funding,

Source: http://www.idpc.net :International Drug Policy Consortium: a global network

promoting objective and open debate on drug policy. 25 January 2010

FEBRUARY CALENDAR

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DIALOGUE SESSIONS

MAC & JAKIM - Promoting HIV

prevention

DATE: TBA

VENUE: Johor

Agenda

Day 1: Dialogue Session with Felda

Pasa residents, JAKIM and other

stakeholders (Jabatan Agama,

Police, AADK and NGO’s)

Day 2: Site Visit to Dignity1 &

Dignity 2 [ILZ shelter homes] for

JAKIM and stakeholders

For more information contact

Guna @ +603 40451033

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ADVOCACY MEETING

Meeting with Jabatan Kebajikan

Masyarakat to advocate for

inclusion of HIV component into

Tunas Bakti School’s curriculum

DATE: TBA

VENUE: TBA

For more information contact

Guna @ +603 40451033

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PRESS CONFERENCE

Publicity effort to announce the

Dayang Nurfaizah Fundraising

Dinner

DATE: February 10, 2010

VENUE: Bangsar

ATTENDEES: Red Ribbon

Celebrity Supporter Dayang

Nurfaizah, MAF Chairman, Prof Dr

Adeeba Kamarulzaman, BOT

members and Media

For more information contact

Azrina @ +603 40451033

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Kuala Lumpur AIDS Support Services (KLASS) Society

The Kuala Lumpur AIDS Support Services (KLASS) Society was established to address the

needs of those who are affected by and infected with HIV and/or AIDS in the Klang Valley

region. Its establishment was based initially on the premise that there was a growing need to

bridge the gap identified in areas of dissemination of information, counseling, and support

tailored to the needs of primarily the Chinese and Tamil speaking communities. Today, KLASS

has expanded its services to inclusively address the needs of other communities.

KLASS in the past year of 2009 recorded a number of achievements which culminated in the two-day

World AIDS Day 2009 event held at Wangsa Maju Mall, Kuala Lumpur from 5 to 6 December. It was

organised with the Malaysian AIDS Foundation, a collaboration which best exemplifies how a CBO can

successfully coordinate an HIV awareness campaign with a national fundraising body.

For the year 2010, KLASS will continue to focus on the following support/service-centric activities: The

Hospital Peer Support Programme (HPSP) in Sungai Buloh Hospital and Seremban Hospital; facilitation

of Faith Helping Centre, a temporary shelter and care home for PLHIVs which aims at reuniting the

residents with their families and providing them with survival skills in preparation for reintegration into

society; and the KLASS Helpline (+603-4045-3686), a telephone counseling service run by trained

volunteers which provides information and referrals to other related agencies, NGOs, and CBOs

nationwide.

MAF FUNDRAISING

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Melinda Looi vibrant “Circle of

Lives” design t-shirt for sale

For more information contact

Shanthini @+ 603 40451033

T-Shirt RM40.00

Baby Tees RM40.00

MEDIA WATCH

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KAWAN (Youth With A Mission)

A NGO, offering harm reduction,

welfare and referral services for

IDU’s and PLHIV’s in Pudu and

Cheras areas of Kuala Lumpur

Click on the link below to view a

video showcasing KAWAN’s

efforts in promoting NSEP services.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-

x1Bxi_i3tM

For more information contact

KAWAN @

No 24A, Jalan Lengkongan Brunei

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel / Fax: 03 – 2144 4077

Email : kawannsepkl@yahoo.com

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