Golingi's Organ Donation Pledge Is Fulfilled

 A Special Tribute to Sabahan Donors

KOTA KINABALU: The wish to donate his organs by Datuk Felix Golingi who died on Tuesday was fulfilled by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Felix, 53, passed away late evening, after he was admitted to the intensive care unit with a massive heart attack in the morning.

He had, in late 1998 together with his wife Elizabeth and eight children (two of them twins), pledged all their organs upon death so that other Malaysians would live and urged the public to do likewise.

QEH Director Datin Dr. Rahimah Mohd. Said said Felix was resuscitated by a team of doctors, including several specialists, for several hours but “his heart muscle became so weak it could no longer pump blood adequately to maintain life despite artificial support by many drugs.”

“Elizabeth was approached and she consented to the donation. However only the eyes were requested because of cardiac and circulatory arrest,” she said.

Rahimah said family members and the pastor of his church also approached doctors regarding the organ donation. The “harvesting’ was done by Consultant Opthalmologist Dr. Peter Kong and a medical team.

Although the QEH has the expertise to perform eye transplants, it was unable to find suitable recipients ehre and the eyes had to be taken by a doctor to Kuala Lumpur immediately for use.

Dr. Lily Ng, who had received the pledge forms from Felix, said: “Felix was a very generous and caring person in life. Even after death, his generous spirit shone through. He let others see through his eyes. He has set an example for others to follow and he would be long remembered.”

Felix had said,” We are quite willing to sign up because we believe our organs are of no use to us when we die.”

Felix was a senior civil servant who opted for early retirement in 1997. He was Chairman and Managing Director of several companies, besides founding and leading his own church, Maranatha in Penampang.

The First Organ Donor in Sabah

The late Datuk Felix Golingi will be long remembered for many many things but I wish to focus on one very important act of charity for which families here in Sabah in the coming years will benefit from and will have cause to be thankful to him. I am talking about organ tissue donation. He will be known as the man who started the ball rolling in Sabah and made it easier for others to follow suit.

Datuk Felix was a very generous and caring person in life. In late December 1998, he personally handed over to me the organ donation pledge forms of himself, his wife, Elizabeth and his children.

Organ donation is the rare opportunity for us to be a blessing to others after death. Indeed it is a privilege. Datuk Felix had vision. His generous spirit shone through. He let others see through his eyes. He practiced good stewardship as the man in the “Parable of the Talents”  His action will have a long-lasting ripple effect.

The people of Sabah would like to express their deepest thanks to Datin Elizabeth and Family.

By Dr. Lily Ng Mooi Hang

Head & Senior Consultant Anaesthesiologist, Sabah

Back Index Page