GEORGE TOWN: Plans are afoot for the country to introduce the Good Samaritan Act. The law encourages people to assist victims of an emergency by offering them legal protection against adverse outcomes.
This includes providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to those who need it.
Currently, there is no such law in Malaysia, and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the Good Samaritan Act must be put in place.
"How this is going to come about and when this is going to come about, we will work out the details.
"What is important is for us to have the law, just like those implemented in other countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and some Asian countries, among others.
"We will benchmark with these countries. For now, we are kind of left behind," he told newsmen after the launch of the 1st Malaysia Community First Responder conference here today.
Elaborating, Dr Dzulkefly said he would raise the matter at the post-cabinet meeting first next week. It would then be opened up for discussion and a relevant person be put in-charge.
"I am certain we can do this…hopefully within this 15th parliamentary session. I cannot promise you when but I want it done as soon as possible. We have at least three more years," he said.
"But with many countries already having such a law in place, it is important for us to make comparisons and benchmarking to expedite the process.
"If we want to put in place a law without any reference, it may be difficult. But now we know that there are others doing that," he added.
Dr Dzukefly also commended Penang for leading the charge in demonstrating remarkable progress in becoming a heart-safe state.
He said with the the strategic placement of automated external defibrillators (AED) across the state, it had seen a significant improvement in survival rates for people who suffer sudden cardiac arrest
To date, approximately 80,000 to 100,000 lay rescuers had been trained in Penang, and over 1,000 units of AEDs installed in the state, of which about 300 could be accessed in public. To date, 16 lives have been saved thanks to the AED devices.
"By replicating this success nationwide, we can create a heart-safe Malaysia, where no-one has to face the terrifying reality of sudden cardiac arrest alone," he said.
Meanwhile, state Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi welcomed the enactment of a Good Samaritan Act.
He said, while no such law was in place, there was also no case of people suing those who acted in good faith by providing first aid.
"It will be a good move for us to have more protection. Even though we do not have that legislation yet, we also do not have that situation happening yet (people suing those providing first aid).
"But down the line and moving forward, it is something that needs to happen," he added.
In a related development, Dr Dzulkefly said he would have discussions with the Education Ministry to inculcate CPR training skills in schools to ensure that the younger generation knows how to perform the procedure in case of any emergencies.
He cited Norway, where 98 per cent of their people are trained in providing CPR.
"We are way below. So, if we can give ourselves three years to build this Good Samaritan law, I wish to see that 20 per cent of our people are training in providing CPR for a start.
"I want to see the Klang Valley, I want to see Sarawak, I want to see Johor and others, the leading state, to make sure they inculcate the culture of CPR skills.
"This is not just the government, but a whole of society approach," he said.