He said this will provide the public with better access to an AED, a medical device which delivers electric shocks to restore the heart rhythm of victims of cardiac arrest.

Under the project, AEDs will be installed in various locations nationwide, including shopping malls and sports complexes, to improve the effectiveness of first responders.

Khairy said the matter will be brought up to the national council for local governments to support its implementation, in line with the government’s decision to place the device in public areas.

“We will start with a programme known as a network of MyAED Community, where the Malaysian Red Crescent Society and St John Ambulance of Malaysia will provide 100 AEDs as a start throughout the country.

“They are also responsible for maintaining the AEDs and, most importantly, training volunteers to use the device,” he told reporters after a working visit to the Red Crescent national headquarters here today.

The AED project will be launched in June with an allocation of RM3 million, he added.