GEORGE TOWN – Emergency responders should be stationed at the base of the Botanical Gardens hiking trail, given the cases of visitors falling ill or requiring first aid.
The suggestion comes from Jimmy Fong, a Penang evergreen folk artiste whose younger brother collapsed and died on the trail last weekend.
It will serve hikers well to have emergency responders there to promptly administer CPR or other treatment, he said.
Businessman Datuk David Fong, 58, collapsed around 6.30pm on Sunday. Rescuers, who arrived about an hour later, were unable to resuscitate him.
Fire and rescue personnel, as well as Health Ministry officials, who happened to be conducting a joint operation in the area, had to make a long trek to reach David.
The victims’ body is now with the authorities for a post-mortem.
Jimmy, who is in Melbourne, said he is unable to travel to Penang as outbound travel from Australia may be allowed only in October.
In a video shared with The Vibes, he dedicated his song Memories of Penang to his brother.
He performed the track with the Australian-Asean orchestra in Melbourne just before Covid-19 struck last year.
“It is my personal tribute to my brother. We have fond memories of Penang. I have yet to release this arrangement, but it is timely to share this.”
David was also a veteran member of the Penang chapter of the Real Estate Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda).
“I knew David since the day I got involved with Rehda, which is more than 10 years now. He contributed a lot to Penang Rehda,” said former state Rehda chairman Datuk Toh Chin Leong, who also heads the IJM Corp branch in Penang.
Michael Geh, the past president of the International Real Estate Federation, conveyed his condolences to the Fong family and spoke of his admiration for the role David played in the association. – The Vibes, April 13, 2021
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