KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S HIV infection rate has dropped by nearly half over the past five years but the number of women infected is rising sharply, deputy premier Najib Razak reportedly said on Thursday.

Mr Najib said there were 3,452 new HIV cases in 2008, compared to 6,756 in 2003, thanks to a national program to stem infections.

'Malaysia is categorised as a country with a concentrated epidemic...meaning in certain, high risk groups,' he said according to the state Bernama news agency.

However, Mr Najib expressed concern over the increase in HIV infections among women through normal sexual intercourse, saying their numbers rose from 5.02 per cent in 1997 to 16.3 per cent last year. -- AFP