By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, April 23: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has become the first local council in Sarawak to install Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public areas under the ‘Heart Safe City’ initiative, marking a significant step toward improving emergency preparedness and saving lives.
According to MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, five AED units have already been installed at key locations in Kuching South — including Taman Sahabat, Kenyalang Park Market, the MBKS Building, Stutong Community Market, and the MBKS Indoor Stadium — with more sites such as Kenyalang Traffic Garden and Hui Sing Park identified for the next phase of installations.
“This is a meaningful milestone. We are proud to be the first local council in Sarawak to move forward with this initiative.
“The question shouldn’t be ‘why only now?’ but rather ‘why not?’ It’s better to have them now than not at all,” he told reporters after launching the AED at the Stutong Community Market here today.
However, he stressed that the installation of the devices is only one part of the equation. Public awareness and training are critical to ensuring that the AEDs serve their intended purpose.
“We can just install the equipment, but without teaching people how to use it, it’s a total waste — it would just be for display. We want people to learn how to save lives. That’s the most important part,” he noted.
The mayor further explained that MBKS is working on a continuous awareness and training programme so that members of the public are not only aware of the AEDs’ presence but are also equipped to use them correctly during emergencies.
“The devices are easy to purchase and install, but the real challenge lies in ensuring the community knows how to use them. That’s why we are rolling this out step by step, building both infrastructure and knowledge,” he said.
Wee also called for broader support, noting that AEDs should become a standard safety feature in public spaces, similar to fire extinguishers. He proposed that commercial premises, especially those licensed under MBKS, should consider making AEDs part of their essential safety equipment.
“This is a life-saving facility. We’ve seen some shopping centres installing them even without being required to — that’s the kind of proactive response we want to see,” he added.
Wee urged other local councils in Sarawak to follow MBKS’s lead and adopt similar measures for their communities.
“We already have five. Others haven’t even started. That question — ‘why only now?’ — should be asked of those who have yet to install even one. We’re doing our part, and we will continue to do more.”
The AED units were installed as part of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) collaboration with the Rotary Club of Kuching Central and the Rotary Club of Singapore East, whose sponsorship made the initiative possible.
In addition, Wee warned the public to be cautious of individuals falsely claiming to represent him online, noting that there had been recent cases of impersonation involving unsolicited messages.
“There’s only one Facebook account that belongs to me, and I do not send personal messages or ask for financial assistance. Please don’t entertain any suspicious messages,” he clarified. — DayakDaily
