Previously, the illness was closely associated with drug addicts, sex workers and the gay community.

Now, it is spreading among young women and those in heterosexual relationships, said PT Foundation chairman Hisham Hussein.

Two years ago, 1,599 out of 5,830 HIV cases and 653 out of 1,842 AIDS cases were transmitted through heterosexual relationships, the second most common way of spreading the virus after drug abuse.

Between 1986 and 2005, 10,124 HIV cases and 2,956 AIDS cases were spread in the same manner.

The percentage of women who tested positive in the last five years had also shown a rise from six to 20 per cent.

Speaking at the launching of a two-month campaign themed "Never Give Up, Never Forget", organised in conjunction with International AIDS Memorial Day to address stigmatisation and increase public awareness about HIV/AIDS, Hisham said more effort must be taken to change the people's attitude towards the disease.

Also present were United Nations resident co-ordinator of Malaysia Dr Richard Leete and the consultants of a UN study entitled Impact of HIV on People Living with HIV, their Families and Community in Malaysia by Professor Dr Norazah Zulkifli, Associate Professor Dr Mary Huang, Professor Dr Low Wah Yun and Dr Wong Yut Lin.

Hisham said there was also a need to have a pictorial guide on how to use condoms as many Malaysians did not know how to use them properly.

"The media broadcast regulations on condom advertisement restrictions must be lifted purely on humanitarian ground.

"It is a crime to prevent knowledge that can save lives from reaching the public," he added.