PETALING JAYA: The organ allocation system from a deceased donor to a recipient is purely based on clinical criteria, said the Health Ministry.
Organ allocation, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, is not based on race, religion, background or a person’s status in society.
He said examples of the clinical criteria included duration of dialysis treatment and organ donor-recipient compatibility.
“As such, there are possibilities where organs donated by a non-Muslim are given to a Muslim and vice-versa.
“It is the same with blood donations and transfusion,” said Dr Noor Hisham in a statement yesterday.
He said this in reference to a video by “certain parties” who questioned the status of non-Muslims wanting to be organ donors.
Dr Noor Hisham said the National Fatwa Council issued a fatwa in the 1970s allowing Muslims to donate organs.
Many muftis have also explained the matter, he said, so it should not be an obstacle if a Muslim receives organs or blood from a non-Muslim and vice-versa.
“The ministry appreciates Malaysians who have registered as organ donors as well as those who donate blood.
“Generally, the awareness among Malaysians is increasing and currently, more than 350,000 Malaysians have pledged to be organ donors,” he added.
He said those who have pledged to donate their organs can also renew their card by visiting www.fb.com/dermaorgan or
@dermaorgan on Twitter.
Dr Noor Hisham said Malaysians who want to take the pledge and become organ donors can register at http://www.dermaorgan.gov.my.
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