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THE fire station bell rings, the crew rushes into action, and within minutes the fire engine is tearing down the road. But upon arrival, there is no smoke, no flames—only silence. It was a hoax call.
While prank calls to emergency services are often seen as harmless mischief, firefighters warn that every false alarm could endanger lives by diverting resources away from real emergencies.
“Some don’t call to report an incident—they just need someone to talk to,” Bernama cited Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director Farhan Sufyan Borhan saying. “They’re often lonely or heartbroken. Sometimes all we can hear is laboured breathing or a trembling voice holding back tears. Some don’t say a word. They just want to know someone is there.”
But Farhan stressed that even these emotional calls are still classed as false alarms because the station must be on standby, ready to respond.
“Every call has a cost,” he said. “Time, fuel, the physical and mental strain on our crews—and above all, the risk that we’re not available for a real emergency.”
Before the introduction of the Malaysian Emergency Response System (MERS) 999 in 2007, such calls went directly to the fire stations, and JBPM bore the cost of the phone bills.
“In those days, the fire department had to pay the bills—even for prank calls,” Farhan said.
As of July 7 this year, JBPM Kelantan had received 2,053 emergency calls, of which eight were hoaxes. In 2024, there were 6,099 calls (seven false alarms); in 2023, 4,480 calls (seven false alarms); and in 2022, 4,213 calls with two false alarms. While the numbers may seem small, Farhan warned that even a single false call could have grave consequences.
He recalled a devastating incident during his time with JBPM Sabah. A frantic caller reported a fire but provided an incomplete address. “The commander tried to ask for landmarks or street names. But in those moments, the fire worsened. Three people died—not because they couldn’t escape, but because it took too long for us to find them.”
“That’s what determines whether a life is saved or lost,” he said. “Technology can help, but it all depends on the accuracy of the information we’re given.”
Under the MERS 999 system—operated by Telekom Malaysia—calls are screened before being passed to the fire department. Details such as the caller’s location and name are logged, and a call sheet is dispatched simultaneously while the operator is still on the line.
“There are three main centres: Cheras, Kuala Lumpur; Melaka; and Kuching, Sarawak. Calls are automatically rerouted if one centre is overwhelmed, so delays are minimised,” said Farhan.
Still, no system can compensate for incorrect or vague information. “We need full addresses, nearby landmarks, street names—every second counts.”
JBPM Kelantan lodges a police report for every prank call received. “It’s not about punishing people—it’s about preventing repeat incidents,” he said, noting that several hoax callers in Sabah had been successfully prosecuted.
Under Section 233(2) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, making a false emergency call is a criminal offence. Convicted individuals face a fine of up to RM50,000, one year’s imprisonment, or both.
“Don’t treat it like a joke,” Farhan urged. “When our crew boards that truck, they don’t know if the call is real or fake. But they’ll go anyway—because someone’s life might depend on it.” - July 20, 2025
