Sudden cardiac arrest can happen anytime, anywhere, and to anyone. In those critical first few minutes, the actions of bystanders can make the difference between life and death. Recognising the importance of early intervention, the Rotary Satellite Club of Batu Pahat – Insight has launched another signature project, “Act Early, Defend Lives”, a community-based AED and CPR initiative aimed at building a more prepared, responsive and resilient community.
The project is built around a simple belief: an AED should not only be available in hospitals or medical facilities only, but it should be accessible where people live, work, worship and gather. From AED Access to Community Preparedness As part of the initiative, the Rotary Satellite Club of Batu Pahat – Insight works with community organisations and partners to identify suitable public locations for AED placement. These AEDs are intended to be accessible during emergencies, while community members are encouraged to learn basic CPR and AED operation.
After studying Rotary Satellite Club of Batu Pahat – Insight’s community needs assessment, Hock Teck Temple in Taman Puteri Indah (Hu Jiao Gang), Batu Pahat, has installed an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) outside the temple premises, becoming the first temple in Batu Pahat to provide an AED for public use and enabling the wider community to benefit from this potentially lifesaving device. The AED was acquired at a cost of RM8,000 through the initiative and facilitation of the Rotary Satellite Club of Batu Pahat – Insight. It was deliberately installed outdoors and made available 24 hours a day to residents of Taman Puteri Indah and the surrounding neighbourhood in case of an emergency.
The organiser, Ju said that the AED belongs to and serves the community and therefore hoped that residents would collectively take care of and protect the equipment to ensure that it remains in good working condition and ready for use when needed.
“We certainly hope that it will never have to be used. However, if an emergency does occur one day, we hope that this AED, together with the lifesaving knowledge gained today, will be able to save a life and help a family.”
“Hock Teck Temple is not merely a place of worship. We also hope to make it a place that cares for the community and protects our fellow residents.”
More than 100 people, including temple representatives, community members and nearby residents, attended a community event jointly organised by Hock Teck Temple in Taman Puteri Indah, the Rotary Satellite Club of Batu Pahat – Insight, and St. John Ambulance Malaysia, Batu Pahat, where participants learned Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) techniques and how to operate an AED.
Following the successful promotion of the “Your Health Partner” series of community activities, the Rotary Satellite Club of Batu Pahat – Insight is currently promoting “Act Early, Defend Lives”, one of its key initiatives, with the aim of securing support from individuals and organisations to install more AEDs at schools, recreational parks and other public locations.
The club, which was established in February 2026, currently has 11 members, primarily from the healthcare sector.
Its Charter Chair, Rtn Angeline Hoo Pei Pei, said, “Act Early, Defend Lives” is the second major initiative undertaken by the club. We are grateful for the strong support from Fu De Temple in Hu Jiao Gang, which has helped us make an important start.
She expressed hope that the club would be able to collaborate with more organisations in the future to promote the widespread adoption of emergency-response knowledge and help embed the philosophy of “Everyone Learns CPR, Everyone Can Save a Life” within the community.
Batu Pahat St. John Ambulance Malaysia Area Commander Eddie Tan said that whenever the team supports an AED installation, it also provides AED and CPR training to ensure that more members of the public know how to operate an AED and prevent lifesaving equipment from becoming ineffective simply because people do not know how to use it.
He emphasised that knowledge of CPR is particularly important because an AED must be used in conjunction with CPR to maximise its lifesaving effectiveness.
“The AED sponsored for Hock Teck Temple in Taman Puteri Indah is the fourth AED funded through public donations. What makes this initiative particularly meaningful is that the AED has been installed outside the temple and made accessible to the public. This is certainly something that other temples and community organisations can learn from and emulate.”
