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Ministry Reveals That Only 2.3% Of "Emergency" Calls To 999 Are Genuine

According to the Communication and Multimedia Ministry, only 2.3% of 83,000 daily emergency calls are genuine.

Cover image via kosmo.com.my

According To Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Only 2.3% Of 999 Emergency Calls Are Genuine

According To Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Only 2.3% Of 999 Emergency Calls Are Genuine

Image via mole.my

Only 2.3% of the 83,000 calls on average received by the Malaysia Emergency Response Services (MERS) 999 number each day are genuine, said Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

msn.com

The Malaysia Emergency Response Services (MERS) 999 Receives An Average Of 83,000 Calls A Day, Most Of Which Are Fake

MERS 999 call centre

Image via 999.gov.my

MERS 999 infographic

Image via SAYS

76% Of Calls Received Were Silent Calls Caused By Smartphone Users Pressing The Emergency Call Button

MERS 999.

Image via 999.gov.my

He said the majority of the calls at about 76 per cent received by MERS 999 centres in the federal capital, Melaka and Sarawak were silent calls caused by smartphone users pressing the emergency call button.

theborneopost.com

There Are Also People Who Deliberately Call MERS 999 To Chat With The Operator

There are also false calls or individuals deliberately calling to chat with the operator.

mynewshub.my

MERS 999 Operators Have To Entertain These Calls And Assist All Individuals Seeking Their Help

MERS 999.

Image via 999.gov.my

"They (operators) have to entertain calls like this because they cannot straightaway tell whether they are genuine or not," he said in a briefing to a delegation of MPs who visited the MERS 999 call centre at the Telekom Malaysia Annexe 2 building here tonight.

bernama.com.my

"It is important for them to keep calm and assist individuals seeking their help in getting the needed assistance in times of misfortune or disasters because a matter of just three minutes can mean life or death," he said.

bernama.com.my

According To The MERS Website, Prank Callers Can Face A RM50,000 Fine, One Year Jail Term, Or Both If Convicted

Anda boleh DIDAKWA dan DIDENDA sebanyak RM50,000 atau DIHUKUM 1 TAHUN PENJARA atau kedua-duanya sekali jika disabit kesalahan (Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia 1998, Seksyen 233)

999.gov.my

In 2013, The Auditor General's Report 2012 Revealed That 32.4% Or 7.6 Million Calls Were Unanswered

AG 2012 report on MERS 999.

Image via SAYS

According to the Auditor General’s Report 2012, approximately 32% of the total emergency calls to MERS999 went unanswered. Again according to the report, there were a total 23.6 million emergency calls from January to August last year. This works out to 32.4% or 7.6 million unanswered calls.

freemalaysiatoday.com

The Communication and Multimedia Ministry Will Seek Steps To Reduce Unwanted Calls To The Emergency Line

MERS 999 operator.

Image via kosmo.com.my

He also thanked operators manning MERS 999 call centres for their diligence and patience in handling thousands of calls in a day, although each eight-hour shift was only manned by a staff of 20.

yahoo.com

Asked on the steps that could be taken to eradicate unwanted calls to the emergency line, Ahmad Shabery said his ministry would continue educating society on the matter so that the service serves its purpose. This was particularly so on avoiding the use of the emergency call function on handphones which is not bound by password protection or mobile credit, he said.

malaysiaedition.net

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