KUCHING, Oct 18: Social activist Datuk Seri Ang Lai Soon welcomes the announcement made by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin for making the installation of automated external defibrillator (AED) at all buildings compulsory.
Ang in a press statement today said he has been campaigning for some years to make mandatory AED accessible in public buildings.
As such, he thanked Khairy and the Ministry of Health (MoH) for their concern over the people’s wellbeing especially during the Covid-19 pandemic where non-Covid-19 patients are also affected and suffering.
Meanwhile, it was reported by the media on Saturday (Oct 16) that Khairy will be pushing for the compulsory installation of AED units in certain buildings.
He said he would discuss the proposal with the relevant ministries as well as state governments as it would involve amendments to building by-laws and that the matter would be brought up to the Federal Cabinet in the near future.
An AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia, which are conditions related to heart attacks.
On another note, Ang is confident that the federal government, MoH and Khairy will support his suggestion to make Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) skills compulsory in all schools and institutions of learning in Malaysia.
He believed that this would save many lives and the health system particularly the ambulance service, and the Accident and the Emergency Department of hospitals will not be overwhelmed. — DayakDaily
