SIBU: The understanding and support of family members has been identified as a key factor in ensuring that a person’s wish to donate organs can be realised when the time comes.
Bukit Assek assemblyman, Joseph Chieng Jin Ek said that even if an individual has registered as an organ donor, consent from immediate family members is still required before the donation process can be carried out.
According to him, for this reason, those who wish to become organ donors need to discuss and inform their spouse and family members of the decision so that their wishes can be respected.
“Many have understood the importance of organ donation and have come forward to register, but family support remains an important element in this process.
“If family members understand the wish earlier, they will be more prepared to make the appropriate decision when needed,” he said when met at the World Blood Donor Day 2026 celebration, organised by the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Sibu Branch in collaboration with Sibu Hospital, at a leading hotel here on Sunday.
Chieng said the increase in the number of individuals registering as organ donors showed that the level of public awareness of the practice was increasingly encouraging.
He said organ donation was not only able to save the lives of patients in need, but was also a form of last-ditch contribution that gave new hope to others.
He also shared his experience of registering as an organ donor since 2000 through the Sibu Kidney Foundation (SKF), but the record was lost before he re-registered in 2023.
In this regard, he hoped that more awareness programmes related to organ donation could be implemented to increase public knowledge of the importance of the practice.
Meanwhile, Chieng also called on the public to continue to support the blood donation campaign as Sibu Hospital needs a high supply of blood every year as the main referral centre for the central region of Sarawak.
He also welcomed the increasing involvement of young people in blood donation activities as a result of the MRCS Sibu Branch’s continuous efforts in instilling human values among the community.
Also present were MRCS Sibu Branch chairman Chua Hiong Kee, Sibu Hospital director Dr Nanthakumar Thirunavukkarasu and the Organising Committee chairperson Dr Rachel Teng, who is also MRCS Sibu vice chairperson.
