Seputeh gets new AED to help save 10,000 lives

In a strong call to action for public safety, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok today urged for more Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to be installed in high-traffic common areas such as malls and condominiums, citing the high prevalence of heart disease in Malaysia.

Speaking at the installation of a new AED at the Vivo @ 9 Seputeh Retail Complex, Teresa emphasised the life-saving potential of the device, especially in urban areas where emergency medical help may not always arrive in time. The AED was donated through a joint effort by RENN Asia Wellness and the Rotary Club of Ara Damansara (RCAD), and is strategically placed near the main drop-off point of the retail complex.

“This initiative by RENN Asia and RCAD is a testament to how community partnerships can save lives and enhance public safety in Kuala Lumpur,” she said. “Let’s hope there will be more such collaborative efforts to protect our loved ones — especially our parents, which is timely as we celebrate Mothers’ Day in May and Fathers’ Day in June.”

The new AED unit is expected to benefit over 10,000 individuals, including nearby residents, tenants, shoppers, regular visitors and parents of students attending the Campus Rangers International School.

The life-saving role of AEDs

An AED is a battery-operated device that analyses a person’s heart rhythm and delivers a controlled electric shock during cardiac arrest. According to RENN Asia Wellness founder and CEO Jonathan Chew, timely access to an AED can drastically increase survival rates.

“Sudden cardiac arrest claims thousands of lives annually in Malaysia. Every minute without defibrillation reduces survival chances by 10%,” said Chew. “Research indicates that administering defibrillation within the first three to five minutes of cardiac arrest can improve survival chances by up to 40%.”

Chew added that this AED installation complements RENN Asia’s broader health strategy at Vivo, including the recent acquisition of a second EECP (Enhanced External Counter Pulsation) machine for non-invasive heart therapy. “From prevention to emergency response, we’re building a full-circle health ecosystem here at Vivo,” he said.

EECP therapy, approved by the U.S. FDA, improves blood flow and may stimulate new blood vessel growth, offering hope to patients with angina and heart failure.

Raising awareness through training

The event also featured free CPR and AED usage training sessions provided by St John’s Ambulance Malaysia, open to residents and members of the public interested in acquiring life-saving skills. Teresa Kok lauded this initiative and said AED access should be viewed as essential as fire extinguishers in public areas.

“Access to AEDs should be as common as fire extinguishers. An AED isn’t just an equipment—it represents hope for the heart attack patient. Let’s normalise heart health preparedness in our daily lives,” she said.

The training is part of a broader mission to empower ordinary citizens with emergency response skills. “Heart disease is often a silent killer and when a heart attack strikes, every second counts. This is when an AED can become a life-saver indeed,” she stressed.

Grassroots AED awareness

RCAD president Ling Hau Ching echoed the urgency to educate the public on AED usage. “It’s about saving lives in public places where many people gather. Cardiac arrests are not just restricted to older persons but are also prevalent among younger people nowadays,” he said.

To address this, RCAD has launched its ‘A Life-Saver in Every Home’ (ALEH) campaign in 2025. “Today, we’re happy to be able to train up to 20 people, thanks to our partners in St John’s Ambulance Malaysia,” Ling added.

He emphasised that the installation at Vivo is just the beginning. “This is about transforming awareness into action. With both the AED installed here and with trained first-aid responders around, we’re creating layers of protection for the community at Vivo.”

The event concluded with a symbolic handover of the AED device to Yong Choo Hong, Building Manager of Vivo Management Corporation, by Chew and Ling. Also present were Rotary International District 3300 Assistant Governor Gordan Vong and Incoming Assistant Governor Lim Yee Von, underscoring the spirit of collaborative civic engagement.