Malaysia has among the highest number of patients requiring dialysis per capita in the world and approximately half of them are eligible for kidney transplant.

Deceased organ donation rates in Malaysia is about 0.7 donor per million population (pmp), compared to 4.5 pmp in Saudi Arabia, 4.0 pmp in Qatar and 2.9 pmp in Iran.

A person who donates all their organs and tissues can help to save up to 8 lives.

The youngest deceased tissue donor in Malaysia was only 25 days old.

The elderly can also pledge as an organ and tissue donor.

Organ donation in Malaysia begin in the early 1970s. Sadly, until now the number of deceased organ donors remains less than 500.

Heart or lung transplant must be done immediately within 4-6 hours after a heart or lung is retrieved from deceased donor.

There are two types of death - brain death and cardiac death. Most people die a cardiac death, when their heart stops beating and they stop breathing.

Brain death occurs when the brain is so badly damaged that it stops functioning permanently, usually as a result of severe bleeding and swelling caused by head injury, stroke, infection, tumours or lack of oxygen.

Brain death is different from normal coma. Someone who is brain dead has lost the ability to breathe and is kept on a machine (ventilator).

Brain death is certified by two specialists who are independent of transplantation.

The scientific community and National Fatwa Council has endorsed that brain death is death.

A person who is brain dead can donate all their organs and tissues, whereas someone who has cardiac death can donate their tissues only.

Donation after death is permissible in Islam. Other religions in Malaysia, such as Buddhisim, Cristianity, Hinduism and Sikhism encourage donation as noble deed.