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PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
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PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
The hazards of fake emergency calls
- Admin UKK
- Berita
KOTA BHARU: Behind the routine of an incoming emergency call lies an often overlooked reality – fake or prank calls can mean the difference between saving and losing a life.
Kelantan fire and rescue department director Farhan Sufyan Borhan said although the country’s emergency response system has become more sophisticated thanks to the Malaysian Emergency Response Services (MERS) 999, fake and prank calls continue to pose a serious challenge, often disrupting critical rescue operations.
“Fake calls occur when the caller provides a full address but, upon arrival, no real incident has taken place. Prank calls, on the other hand, involve the caller remaining silent, making jokes, or merely seeking attention.
“The key difference is that prank calls are usually filtered by Telekom Malaysia (TM) before they reach us,” he told Bernama recently.
He said before the implementation of MERS 999, the fire department had to bear the cost of every incoming call.
“Some people would call because they were broken-hearted; others used public phones just to make jokes. Back then, the fire department had to foot the phone bill.”
Now, with the MERS 999 system operated free of charge by TM, every emergency call undergoes a preliminary screening process. Caller details such as name and location are recorded to help expedite response times.
“By the time MERS 999 connects the call to us, the nearest fire station has already received the ‘call sheet’ and is preparing to deploy,” he said.
“However, we still need to ask the caller for more details, such as the type of fire or the condition of the victim, so the commander can better plan the operation.”
Farhan explained that the MERS 999 system is operated simultaneously by three call centres located in Cheras, Melaka, and Kuching in Sarawak. “If one centre is busy, the call is automatically redirected to another without affecting response time.
“The system is designed to ensure a fast and efficient response, no matter which centre handles the call. So, for example, if a call from Sabah is routed to Sarawak, it doesn’t cause any delays.”
He also recalled a tragic incident during his time in Sabah, when the fire department was accused of being late to a scene that resulted in three fatalities.
“The caller gave an incomplete address, and the commander had to seek additional information. The fire spread too quickly,” he said, stressing that the case served as a critical reminder of the importance of providing complete and accurate details during emergency calls.
Farhan, who urges the public to use MERS 999 responsibly and only in genuine emergencies, stressed that fake and prank calls are not just a nuisance – they can delay aid to actual victims.
As such, calls of this nature are considered a crime, even though no fake callers have been prosecuted in Kelantan so far.
According to Kelantan JBPM, as of July 7, the department has received 2,053 calls, including 796 fire cases, 1,173 rescue operations, 76 special tasks, and eight fake calls.
The department recorded seven fake calls in 2023 and another seven last year, as well as two in 2022.
ALOR STAR: In 2024, floods wiped out RM158.7 million worth of padi in Kedah's Mada region, raising alarm over the escalating cost of climate volatility on the nation's food security.
The Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) said floods last year destroyed 57,323 tonnes of rice across 2,047 hectares of padi fields.
But it is not just the dramatic floods — creeping temperatures are an invisible threat to yields, agency leaders said.
"Flood damage is obvious, but rising temperatures will quietly eat into yields. "When it gets too hot, it affects chlorophyll formation and flowering in the rice.
"Once that happens, output will decline, but for now, it is under control," Mada chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh said.
Another long-term study projects yield reductions of up to 34.8 per cent by 2060 in granary states like Kedah, Perak and Kelantan if climate patterns persist.
Mada is focusing on fortifying the fundamentals of soil health and water management to cushion the impact, said Ismail. "Whether it's floods or heat spells, degraded soil means poor harvests.
"We're boosting fertility with microbial and organic inputs to make the crops more resilient," he said.
The agency is upgrading irrigation and drainage where possible, bracing for more extreme swings between too much and too little water.
While most Mada-controlled areas are shielded from saltwater intrusion, Ismail said that coastal padi zones in Kuala Muda and Sungai Petani were showing signs of soil salinity.
"We have about a decade, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) forecasts, to put adaptation strategies in place before harsher climate patterns take hold.
"We have to adapt before harsher climate patterns really set in. That means investing in better drainage, smart irrigation systems and soil resilience measures now," he added.
Farmers Organisation Authority (LPP) chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar said climate-linked disasters were forcing a paradigm shift in farming.
"Floods, droughts, even seawater intrusion, these are no longer once-in-a-generation events. They're happening regularly, so we need cross-ministerial coordination and long-term planning to cope."
Mahfuz said farmers under the LPP are adjusting their routines, altering crop calendars or choosing different, more resilient crops in between padi seasons to avoid the worst flood months.
He said in Kedah, 816 LPP-member farmers suffered RM2.2 million in losses this year due to floods and drought, affecting over 3,400ha of farmland.
Nationwide, 37,912 LPP-member padi farmers have enrolled in Agrobank's Padi Crop Takaful Scheme introduced last year – a sign that farmers recognise the need for climate risk management.
"Preparedness is no longer optional. We have to reduce the risk of suffering losses to climate change and we need to learn from the past events" Mahfuz said.
MIRI (July 15): The implementation of drainage and irrigation improvement works cannot be rushed as they must follow proper procedures, said Minister for Transport Sarawak Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.
Lee pointed out that multiple stages are involved, including planning, applying for funding, and engaging consultants.
“All these projects take time ― from planning to securing funds, up to awarding the tenders to contractors. We cannot take shortcuts. Consultants must be appointed to conduct studies, surveys, and to draft plans.
“The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) must then submit these plans to the State Planning Authority (SPA) for approval before proceeding with project design and tender,” he told reporters during a site visit to the proposed drainage works at Taman Lopeng here yesterday.
As such, Lee urged residents to understand the situation and not assume that the authorities are ignoring flood issues in their area.
He said DID Miri has drawn up plans for a major drainage upgrade project covering areas from Taman Tunku to Padang Kerbau.
“The RM50-million project has been in the pipeline for nearly three years and funding for its implementation has been approved,” he said.
The project, slated to commence by the end of this year, aims to mitigate flood in low-lying and flood-prone zones from Taman Tunku to Padang Kerbau.
Lee added that this is one of two major drainage projects approved for his constituency.
“The other involves areas in Senadin and Lutong with a project value of RM45 million,” he added.
On the maintenance of an earth drain stretching two kilometres in Pujut Padang Kerbau, Lee said the flood drain discharges into Sungai Dalam.
According to him, RM75,000 has been allocated for cleaning works, which commenced last week and are expected to be completed within two weeks.
Also present was Miri DID engineer Daniel Chen.
Pendaki cemas Gunung Kinabalu ‘banjir’
- Admin UKK
- Berita
RANAU: Pendaki Gunung Kinabalu berdepan detik mencemaskan berikutan air mengalir deras dari puncak gunung di sepanjang laluan ketika melakukan pendakian awal pagi ini disebabkan hujan lebat dalam kejadian pagi hari ini.
Menerusi perkongsian di beberapa malim gunung memaklumkan cuaca berubah mendadak sejak awal pagi, menyebabkan laluan menjadi licin dan berair terutama di kawasan berbatu dan berhampiran anak sungai.
Menurut mereka, keadaan seperti ini bukan luar biasa namun tetap berisiko tinggi setiap kali hujan lebat berlaku. “Laluan boleh menjadi sangat licin, malah aliran air yang deras dari puncak boleh mengancam keselamatan pendaki.
“Kami sentiasa ingatkan pendaki supaya berhenti dan berteduh jika keadaan berbahaya. Jangan ambil risiko mendaki sendirian atau tanpa malim gunung,” kata seorang malim gunung yang bertugas.
Pihak Taman-Taman Sabah (TTS) turut mengeluarkan peringatan supaya semua pendaki mematuhi arahan keselamatan serta tidak meneruskan pendakian tanpa pengawasan.
Pendaki juga dinasihatkan membawa pakaian hujan dan kelengkapan asas keselamatan setiap kali mendaki.
Sejak pagi hari ini, tular beberapa video di media sosial memaparkan keadaan mencemaskan termasuk insiden seorang pendaki tergelincir akibat aliran deras, namun tiada kecederaan dilaporkan.
Setakat tengah hari ini, tiada insiden tidak diingini berlaku dan pemantauan masih diteruskan oleh petugas TTS bersama malim gunung bagi memastikan keselamatan pendaki yang berada di laluan.
Gunung Kinabalu yang berketinggian 4,095 meter terus menjadi tumpuan pendaki dari dalam dan luar negara, namun faktor cuaca kekal menjadi elemen penting dalam menentukan kelancaran pendakian.
Heavy downpours on Mt Kinabalu strand dozens, as MetMalaysia issues thunderstorm warnings
- Admin UKK
- Berita
KOTA KINABALU: Dozens of climbers were temporarily stranded, while others had to brave strong torrents of water flowing down Mount Kinabalu following heavy downpours early Thursday (July 10).
Those who had reached the summit earlier were forced to navigate river-like currents during their descent. Meanwhile, climbers who began their ascent later from the Panalaban hut were stopped at the Sayat-Sayat checkpoint as the rain showed no signs of letting up.
According to sources along the mountain trail, many late climbers had to postpone their ascent due to the weather. By around 3.30am, most chose to turn back from Sayat-Sayat when it became clear that the downpour would persist.
Those descending from the summit eventually made it safely to the Laban Rata resthouse by around 6am. Climbers typically begin their ascent to the peak at around 2am.
Viral videos shared online showed several groups of climbers clinging to ropes and moving in single file at about 5am, with rainwater streaming down the trail beneath their feet. Each group was guided from the front and rear by mountain guides to ensure safe footing.
Thunderstorm warnings for various parts of Sabah had been issued as early as 1.50am on Thursday.
A specific alert for areas including Kota Belud, which is adjacent to Kundasang where Mount Kinabalu is located, was posted on the MetMalaysia social media page at 3am.