LETTER | Provide exigency services to facilitate public feedback

LETTER | When conducting training on safety and security, I would ask participants who they would call if they were the first to witness an accident with living victims pinned under a truck or rubble.

Should they first notify the Fire and Rescue Department and then the police, or immediately call for an ambulance? If so, do they know the numbers to dial? Most trainees were stumped, and it is more likely for witnesses to be at a loss on the best course of action.

After a car rolled over my feet at a basement car park and my phone was out of order, the security guards present did not call for an ambulance although they were requested to do so. Later, they disclosed that no attempt was made as their prepaid phone had run out of credit.

Now, it is important for everyone to always bear in mind that in Malaysia, there is only one number to remember and dial for emergency services, and that is 999.

Just dial 999

The Malaysia Emergency Response Services (MERS 999) encompasses the emergency services of Bomba, the police, the Health Ministry, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, and the Civil Defence Department.

Calls are professionally handled by phone operators who are trained to receive and channel requests to the appropriate agencies speedily. Anyone with a handphone with or without a SIM card or credit in a prepaid phone can dial 999, and an operator will answer the call.

I dialed 999 twice and both times, an ambulance was dispatched from Chancellor Tuanku Muhriz UKM Hospital. The first incident saved a life, as the patient underwent brain surgery immediately upon arrival at the hospital. If there had been any delay, he would have died.

Thanks to the emergency service and government hospitals’ policy of carrying out operations to save lives, the bachelor who lived alone in a rented room at a low-cost flat survived. Syabas (well done) to all government hospitals and emergency services that have benefited the rakyat greatly.

The second incident was when I called for an ambulance on Nov 19, 2022, which was polling day for the 15th general election. I felt great discomfort when my heart was beating irregularly and my systolic blood pressure exceeded 200 in three successive readings.

Tests showed there was too much potassium in my blood. I had been consuming too many bananas and dark green leafy vegetables. The daily volume I consumed could easily surpass what most Malaysians would eat in a week.

It must be noted that MERS 999 is meant to handle emergencies that may involve crimes, serious injuries, life-threatening situations, floods, landslides, fires or rescues, but may not entertain exigencies such as open burning, illegal dumping or noise pollution.

Suggestions for DOE

Most of these transgressions are under the purview of the Environment Department (DOE), which has developed the MyJAS Aduan app for the public to install and report complaints. Although convenient to DOE, the public would benefit more from calling mobile phone numbers instead.

If there is an exigency number such as 01X-999 9999, the public can easily remember and make a call or forward a text, photo or video. If the information provided is inadequate, the assigned DOE officer can easily follow up and communicate with the complainant at a suitable time.

For example, some people carry out open burning regularly to get rid of rubbish, fallen leaves and branches. Videos of such evidence can be forwarded to the exigency number and DOE officers can later visit the locations at a convenient time to give verbal warnings to the culprits.

Then there are illegal dumpings in deserted areas and also along streams and rivers, including discharge that seeps into catchment areas and reservoirs, causing pollution and foul odour, and resulting in yet another unscheduled water disruption that affects the lives of millions.

Noise pollution is driving many people to insanity. For instance, many residents in Taman Maluri, Kuala Lumpur living along the route taken by an old Bas Pekerja are awakened too early when the bus passes by with its loud exhaust and the engine revved up when double-declutching.

Then there are cars and motorcycles with small engines but with exhaust pipes modified to sound like Ferraris or big bikes by those with supersized egos. They delight in amplifying their noisy exhausts in the quiet of the night or riding out or into the compound of condominiums.

Their antics could easily be recorded by irate residents and forwarded to DOE, which can work closely with the Road Transport Department and summon these transgressors to produce their cars or motorcycles to test the noise level emitting from their exhaust pipes.

Even if the culprits were to change the exhaust pipes back to the original for inspection, which was the main objective, it would be mission accomplished. Best of all, any sincere government agency, including the DOE, could introduce a number for exigency services virtually overnight.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.