KUCHING: The Sarawak government is looking to table an amendment to the Sarawak Building Ordinance 1994 in the next Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting this year, which will include a proposal to make Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) mandatory in public buildings.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the Sarawak Attorney General’s Chambers (SAG), together with his ministry, the Public Health, Housing and Local Government, is finalising the amendment bill, which will also address updates in fire prevention regulations and introduce a green building index.
“When the bill is ready to be tabled, it will involve quite a lot of changes. The Building Ordinance hasn’t been updated in 10 years, and we want to make use of this opportunity to update everything, including a green building index standard.”
Dr Sim said this when met by reporters after officiating the presentation of AEDs between Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) and Kuching Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) at the Unifor Complex here, Friday (Aug 1).
Dr Sim stressed that the inclusion of AEDs in public spaces is vital, as heart disease remains the number one cause of death in Sarawak.
“We often see people collapsing in public, and no one knows what to do. Having an AED nearby, and people trained to use it, can save lives,” he said, adding that even basic AED units cost less than RM4,000 and are affordable for most commercial premises.
He also urged more Sarawakians to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), noting that organisations such as the Malaysian Red Crescent, St John Ambulance, and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) are already offering training, including in schools.
“As Sarawak becomes more towards 2030, we are prosperous, we are inclusive, we are environmental sustainability. We also need to elevate the general standards of all this.
“This is part of building a more resilient and caring society. The government will do its part, but everyone must contribute — it’s about nation-building.”
