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MALAYSIA recorded 3,185 new HIV cases in 2024, a marginal decrease from 3,222 cases the previous year, according to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He said overall, new HIV infections in the country have fallen by 54 per cent between 2002 and 2024, reflecting the impact of sustained public health interventions.
“Last year, a total of 3,185 new HIV cases were reported, a slight decline compared with 3,222 cases in 2023,” Dr Dzulkefly said in a written parliamentary reply published on the Parliament website yesterday.
He noted, however, that infections linked to homosexual or bisexual transmission recorded a minor rise. “Referring to HIV cases transmitted through homosexual or bisexual risk, 2,037 cases were reported in 2024 — an increase of two per cent compared with 1,995 cases in 2023,” he said.
Dr Dzulkefly was responding to a question from Zulkifli Ismail (PN–Jasin), who had asked for the latest statistics on HIV cases among LGBTQ groups and those linked to drug abuse.
The minister added that infections arising from the sharing of contaminated needles and injection equipment have shown a dramatic decline since the introduction of Malaysia’s Harm Reduction Programme in 2005 and 2006.
“With regard to new HIV cases resulting from sharing contaminated needles and syringes during drug injection, infections dropped from 66 per cent (4,038 cases) in 2005 to 2.7 per cent (87 cases) in 2023 and further to 2.4 per cent (77 cases) in 2024,” he said. - November 12, 2025
