KUALA LUMPUR: All relevant stakeholders should be engaged to craft a comprehensive and balanced Good Samaritan Law, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
The Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said these include healthcare professionals, legal experts, and community organisations, and added that engaging these stakeholders will also reduce opportunities for abuse.
"Public education campaigns should accompany the legislation to ensure Malaysians understand their rights and responsibilities under this law.
As an organisation dedicated to promoting safety and health in our community, we believe this law will inspire greater compassion, accountability, and unity among Malaysians," he said on Sunday (December 15).
Fully supporting the plan to introduce the law, Lee said it represents a vital step in encouraging civic responsibility and fostering a culture of compassion and care in society.
"A Good Samaritan Law aims to provide legal protection to individuals who act in good faith to assist others in emergency situations.
These individuals, often referred to as good Samaritans, deserve recognition and support for their willingness to render aid without fear of legal repercussions," he added.
He said the law could encourage people to assist in emergencies.
"By protecting good Samaritans from liability, the law can motivate more people to help others in distress, potentially saving lives.
It can also promote a sense of collective responsibility, strengthen the moral fabric of our communities, and reduce hesitation to act during emergencies," he said.
However, Lee cautioned that some individuals might misuse the law to avoid accountability for negligent or harmful actions.
"To be effective, the law must be carefully drafted to define the scope of protection and ensure it applies only to acts of genuine good faith," he said.
Another concern is the risk of over-reliance, where the public might depend too much on untrained individuals instead of seeking professional help.
"Proper education about the law and basic emergency response skills must be provided to avoid misunderstandings or mishaps," Lee said.
It was reported that the Health Ministry is looking to introduce the Good Samaritan Law, which encourages people to assist others in emergencies without fear of legal consequences, such as being sued for unintentional harm caused during assistance.
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the Act must be put in place, and he would raise the matter at the post-Cabinet meeting next week.
"How this is going to come and when this is going to come about, we will have to wait, but more importantly, we will make a decision that it will be implemented like what other countries have done. This Good Samaritan Law must be put in place at least within this 15th Parliament Session. We have three years more," he told reporters after launching the inaugural Malaysia Community First Responder Conference on Saturday (Dec 14), Bernama reported.
He said many countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and certain Asian nations, have implemented the law, and Malaysia would benchmark with them.
In Malaysia, there is currently no specific Good Samaritan Law at the national level, but the concept has been discussed and debated as part of the broader conversation around public health and emergency response.
