GEORGE TOWN: The Penang state government urges shopping malls and supermarkets to have its own automated external defibrillators (AED) within its premises.

State Health Committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin said the AED should also be displayed in a public area that is easily accessible in case of emergency.

"We are glad that the use of AED is championed by organisations such as Hui Yin Seh, which focuses on community welfare.

"However, there seems to be poor response from corporate and private organisations.

"If schools and religious institutions could have their own AED, why not shopping malls and hotels?" he asked during his opening speech at the mass AED and CPR programmme at Wisma Hui Yin Seh in Ayer Itam Sunday (April 7).

He added that Penang has plans for a policy for buildings to be equipped with AED.

"We encourage private institutions to make the move instead of waiting until it is compulsory for AED," he said.

He added that Penang has about 50 AED in public spaces and has trained more than 25,000 people in CPR and the use of the AED.

Also present at the event were Hui Yin Seh chairman Datuk Zhuang Geng Kang and Zoll Medical senior vice-president for Asia-Pacific Christopher Barnabas.

Zoll Medical also presented an AED machine to Hui Yin Seh during the event which saw more than 200 participants.