AN automated external defibrillator (AED) was installed at the Air Itam Market today under the state’s Responsible Tourism campaign.
Penang executive councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy Yeoh Soon Hin said the state aims to instal 20 units of AED by the first quarter of this year under the campaign and gradually rolling out other phases to cover all the five districts in Penang.
When all five districts are covered, the state would have a total of 45 AEDs installed under the campaign.
“This plan to include all districts is to ensure that the AEDs are accessible by the general public, allowing the rakyat to have equal access to basic life-saving amenities.
“This AED installation is an investment that will boost Penang’s competitiveness in the international market, positioning the state as a people-centric destination.
“Although we don’t wish to have to use these AEDs, it is important for us to prepare for the worst, instead of preparing after the worst,” Yeoh said at a press conference before placing an AED inside a box that was attached to the outside wall of the Air Itam Market.
He added that other locations for this phase are: St Anne’s Church; police station in Jelutong, Nibong Tebal, Jalan Patani and Teluk Kumbar; Fire and Rescue Department in Perak Road and Chew Jetty; Pinang Tunggal; Wadda Gurdwara; Botanic Gardens (4); Penang Hill Mid-station; Paya Terubong Food Complex and Marke; Jalan Raja Uda (Guan Yin Ting Dou Mu Gong Temple); Pulau Aman; Taman Pekaka and Astaka Gurney.
Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng, who was also present at the press conference, said they finally chose to instal the AED at the marketplace in the town area instead of the Air Itam police station because it is a tourist spot.
“My service centre will organise some training (to use the AED) for all the hawkers here, not only for just the volunteers.
“With this installation, we can minimise the death rate due to heart attack. Even though we are now facing the Covid-19 challenges, heart attack has always been the main cause of death.
“We look forward to more such installation in Air Itam. We have about eight in total now in Air Itam. And if any society or any well wishers who want to donate the medical devices, they are welcome,” Ng said.
The state Tourism and Creative Economy office (Petace) office is running the campaign with the support of the Penang Heart Safe Society (PHSS) and other volunteer groups.
PHSS chairman Datuk Dr Luah Lean Wah said since the drive to instal AED in public areas started in 2015, the state has now set up over 120 AEDs, with 40 more already donated to the Penang Heart Safe Society.
She said placing the AED device at the Air Itam Market is strategic as the area has a high volume of visitors, who can help disseminate the information about AED when they return home and hopefully inspire other states to start a similar programme.
“Penang is the first state in Malaysia that we are able to initiate this type of public access defibrillator programme or in the community area. We installed our first AED in Komtar on Dec 20, 2015.
“To date, we have over 120 AEDs for community use, without counting those installed in the factories or own premises.
“On top of that, we have 40 that have been donated to the Penang Heart Safe Society. We’ll have 150 to 160 AEDs, and we hope for more to come. So far, the AEDs have helped save seven lives. Like our Chief Minister (Chow Kon Yeow) had said recently, we want Penang to be a cleaner, safer, healthier and happier state,” Dr Luah said.
Among those present at the AED installation ceremony were Penang Island City Council councillors Rohaizat Hamid and Tan Soo Siang, St John Ambulance north-east area superintendent operation Kelvin Yeoh and council member Dr T.C. Lee, CERT George Town chairman Ong Swee Jin, office in charge of Air Itam police station ASP G. Karunaagaran, Persatuan Kebajikan Sukarelawan Mutiara Pulau Pinang chairman Lim Teik Aun and his vice-president Herry Teh.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting