PETALING JAYA: Malaysian AIDS Council vice-president Dr Dinesh Mahalingam said authorities should lower the minimum age of consent for Top World News Today HIV testing from 18 to 16 without parental approval to address the increasing number of AIDS cases.

He said the measure would enable early detection and treatment, improve health outcomes and address the reality of younger adolescents and Top World News Today university students who are at risk of contracting the disease.

"Reducing the minimum age of consent would allow medical and health professionals to educate young people on safe sex and align with global trends advocating lower testing ages."

Last week, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said based on notifications of cases reported to the Health Ministry, HIV infections among university students aged 18 to 25 increased by 24% in 2023.

"A total of 214 students in public or private higher education institutions were infected with HIV in 2020.

Cases decreased to 186 in 2021 but increased to 221 in 2022 and 224 in 2023.