Al-Makmuriah Mosque receives AED from Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of Ara Damansara has donated an automated external defibrillator (AED) to Al-Makmuriah Mosque in Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara, marking a significant step towards strengthening emergency response readiness in the area.

The handover ceremony was officiated by Club President Siraanjivi Ganasan, and graced by Selangor Executive Councillor for Public Health and Environment, Jamaliah Jamaluddin, who is also the State Assembly Member for Bandar Utama.

Jamaliah described the mosque as an ideal location for the AED, being a vital hub for the local community. “The availability of an AED here will not only benefit mosque congregants, but also the wider surrounding community in the event of an emergency,” she said.

She also highlighted the broader public health impact of such installations. “Heart attacks remain the leading cause of death in Malaysia. When a heart attack strikes, every second counts, and the use of an AED can save a life,” she added.

Expanding public access to lifesaving tools

Jamaliah announced that the Selangor State Government plans to expand the installation of AEDs in other public areas such as sports centres, parks, and places of worship. She also said training programmes in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and AED usage will be rolled out for Community Health Volunteers (Sukarelawan Kesihatan Komuniti Selangor or SUKA).

The recent donation is part of the Rotary Club’s “A Lifesaver in Every Home” (ALEH) programme, initiated by the club’s past president Ling Hau Ching. Under the initiative, four AEDs have been donated and over 200 individuals trained in CPR. Two of the units were co-sponsored by the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Foundation.

“We’re grateful to the mosque committee for being so welcoming when we approached them to install the AED for public use,” said Siraanjivi. “It is indeed meaningful for a house of worship to provide such a life-saving device for emergency use.”

He added that the project reflects the Rotary International 2025-2026 theme “Unite for Good,” saying: “This project reflects Rotary’s commitment to bridging communities through meaningful service that benefits all.”

The initiative has also been officially recognised under the Hari Kebangsaan Hari Malaysia (HKHM) 2025 celebrations, themed Malaysia MADANI: Rakyat Disantuni.

Merdeka spirit inspires lifesaving unity

Al-Makmuriah Mosque chairman, Ustaz Mhd Nadzri bin Hj Mhd Tajudin, lauded the donation, calling it a reflection of community spirit and unity. “This device represents our collective care and readiness as a community. As Malaysians, this Merdeka reminds us that saving lives transcends religion and ethnicity,” he said.

“This is rakyat disantuni in action, ensuring that help is within everyone’s reach when it matters most. May this effort inspire more houses of worship and public spaces to prioritise life-saving access for all,” he added.

Also present at the event were Rotary International District 3300 past district governor Leslie Salehuddin, assistant governor Gordan Vong, and the club’s immediate past president Ling.

To build community resilience, the Rotary Club of Ara Damansara has arranged a free hands-on CPR and AED training session, open to all, which will be conducted by certified volunteers from VitalFour Medical on the morning of Saturday, 9 August.

An AED is a portable, battery-powered device that delivers an electric shock to a person in cardiac arrest, significantly increasing the chances of survival when used alongside CPR.