KUCHING, MALAYSIA: The buying of condoms should be made easier as some people are still bashful about buying them at pharmacies or supermarkets, said Sarawak Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Micheal Manyin.

He has suggested that condom vending machines be set up as one of the ways to prevent the spread of the HIV and AIDS, especially for those who have sex with multiple partners.

Manyin said this was not meant to encourage free sex but to protect others from getting infected.He was speaking to reporters after opening the one-day multi-faith public forum on "Breaking Down Barriers of Discrimination and Stigma" in conjunction with the World AIDS Days 2007 yesterday.

Manyin said many still hesitated to buy condoms openly despite knowing the risks involved when having sex with multiple partners.

"With condom vending machines, they just pay and it (condom) will come out," he added.

However, he felt that the free distribution of condoms, practised in some countries, might not go down well in this country as there were many who still refused to acknowledge the problem.

"HIV and AIDS are still taboo subjects and we must try to discuss it openly and not consider it a taboo anymore," he said. - Bernama