Q: Why is there an overwhelming response from the public to be organ pledgers but, in reality, there are very few donors?

A: What I have come to understand is that many people who have pledged to donate their organs never inform their next of kin, their parents, spouses and children. So, when the hospital authorities approach the family for the organs when the pledger is certified brain dead, they refuse and accuse the doctors and nurses of being heartless at their time of mourning.

Although a person has pledged his organs, doctors cannot harvest them or take his tissues and bones without the consent of the family or next of kin. Because of this, we have lost many potential donors.

Q: What do you think needs to be done to address this problem?
A: An organ pledger must inform his family of what he has done and why he wishes to be a donor or else his noble deed will go unfulfilled when he dies. I think the Health Ministry has to give some thought to this issue as I feel that a person's wish at his time of death should not be dishonoured.

Q: Do you think there is a need for some form of policy or legislation?

A: For a start, there is a need for a public forum to debate this issue because it is sensitive, especially with Malaysia being a multiracial country. I must say that Malays are now open-minded about organ donation.

If you look at the recent cases, almost all the organ donors were Malays and so many people benefited from the organs donated.

Malaysians are now open and very forthcoming about donating organs. There have been cases where the organs of non-pledgers were donated, thanks to their families. Since the 1970s, 215 people have donated their organs.

The harvest included 128 kidneys, 20 hearts, 25 livers, four lungs, 86 heart valves, 143 corneas, skin and bones.

Q: Do you think a public forum will help?

A: I am confident that a public brainstorming session to discuss the issue will help because what we are asking for is that an organ pledger's wish be fulfilled. It is a dying wish of a man. His noble deed will save lives. If there is a policy or legislation, then many lives could be saved. I must say that not all the organs of pledgers can be used because it depends on how good their organs and tissues are at their time of death.

Q: Do you plan to hold a public forum soon?

A: Yes, if possible. So far this year there were only nine organ donors, seven Chinese and two Indians. Do you know how many people in transplant waiting lists have died while waiting for a kidney, heart, liver or lung?

Every year, some 6,000 people, a majority of them young and healthy, die in road accidents. If we could only get 10 to 15 per cent of them to donate their organs, hundreds of children and adults would benefit.

Q: How do you feel when you cannot get the organs?

A: I feel our efforts are in vain. We are doing roadshows, workshops, seminars and exhibitions nationwide to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation. We have explained that the organs are only taken when the doctors have certified a person is brain dead. We even get experts to talk to the public on what is meant by the term "brain dead" and how the organs are harvested.

Q: Do you think the government should introduce an opt-out law on organ donation, just like Singapore and other countries?

A: Malaysia is a multi-racial country and this is a sensitive matter that needs to be debated extensively. When such a law is enforced, it is assumed that all citizens are organ donors unless a person wishes to opt out as a donor.

There needs to be some form of law, or else it is just campaigns and the long wait for a donor.

Q: What do you plan to do?

A: When I chair the sub-committee meeting, I will review all the measures that we have put in place since 2002 to determine how far we have succeeded in creating public awareness about organ donation.

Secondly, I intend to suggest that we should get the support of radio and television to highlight organ donation.

I am also planning to introduce an organ donation promotion kit for the public, besides having more roadshows and campaigns in urban and rural areas.

Q: Are you also planning to rope in community leaders to promote organ donation?

A: Absolutely. When we hold roadshows and exhibitions, we also invite community leaders and doctors to talk to the public.

I think there is also a need for highly-trained and skilled personnel to talk to potential donor families, as is being done in some countries.

These people are trained to interact and use a psychological approach to get families to donate the organs of their brain-dead family members.