Latest news with #KelantanFireandRescueDepartment
The Star
17 hours ago
- The Star
Hoax calls putting lives at risk, says Fire Dept
Stretched thin: The number of false alarms may seem small, but even a single hoax can drain the firemen's time and energy and disrupt their focus, potentially putting real emergencies at greater risk. — Bernama KOTA BARU: The fire station bell rings loudly, piercing the silence of the night. With sirens wailing and lights flashing, the red fire engine speeds out of the station. But upon arrival at the given address, everything is silent. No flames, no smoke. It is a hoax call. To the caller, it may be just a prank, but to firemen, every false alarm is a gamble with someone else's life as response teams may not be available should a real crisis arise. Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department director Farhan Sufyan Borhan said they received 2,053 emergency calls as of July 7 this year, out of which eight were hoax calls. In 2024, it recorded 6,099 calls including seven false alarms; in 2023, there were 4,480 calls with seven false alarms; and in 2022, there were 4,213 calls with two false alarms. At a glance, the number of false alarms may seem small, but even a single hoax can drain the firemen's time and energy and disrupt their focus, potentially putting real emergencies at greater risk. Farhan Sufyan said there were also heartbroken or plain lonely callers, who abused the emergency hotline to pour out their feelings. 'To them, it might not be wrong to call the emergency number but to us, it's still a false call because the station has to prepare regardless, and the fire engine remains on standby for dispatch,' he told Bernama. He warned that those who make false emergency calls can be charged under Section 233 (2) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. Upon conviction, offenders face a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both. Farhan Sufyan also reminded the public that accurate and precise information is crucial in an emergency. Recalling an incident that still haunts him today, he said it happened when he was serving in Sabah. He said someone called to report a fire, but the address given was incomplete, so the operations commander tried to ask more questions, such as nearby landmarks or street names. In those crucial moments, the fire grew larger. 'Tragically, three people perished in that fire, not because the windows of the building they were trapped in were barred, but because it took too long for the firefighters to get to the correct location,' he added.
Barnama
2 days ago
- General
- Barnama
Hoax Calls Disrupt Firemen's Duties, Jeopardise Real Emergencies
T he fire station bell rings loudly, piercing the silence of the night. The crew immediately jumps into action. Siren wailing and blue and red lights flashing, the red fire engine speeds out of the station. But upon arrival at the given address, everything is silent. No flames, no smoke. It is a hoax call. To the caller, it may be just a prank but to the firemen, every false alarm is a gamble with someone else's life as response teams may not be available should a real crisis arise. HOTLINE While hoax calls are quite common, not many know that some people use the emergency hotline for another purpose – to pour out their feelings. 'They don't call us to report a fire or accident. They just need someone to talk to,' Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director Farhan Sufyan Borhan told Bernama, adding that these callers are usually heartbroken or plain lonely. Farhan Sufyan Borhan 'Sometimes, all we can hear at the other end of the line is laboured breathing or a trembling voice trying to hold back tears. Some callers don't speak a word… (maybe) they just want to feel there's someone there for them, even if it is only for a few minutes. 'To them, it might not feel wrong (to call the emergency number). But to us, it's still a false call because the station has to prepare regardless, and the fire engine remains on standby for dispatch.' Behind every emergency call, there is a price to be paid – in terms of the time wasted in attending to such calls, in the operational and fuel expenses of unnecessary fire truck deployments, and the physical and mental toll it takes on firefighters. In fact, before the Malaysian Emergency Response System (MERS) 999 was introduced in 2007, all emergency calls went directly to the fire station and JBPM had to bear the cost of the phone bills. 'The fire department had to cover the bills, even if the call was just a prank,' Farhan Sufyan said. STATISTICS JBPM Kelantan received 2,053 emergency calls this year as of July 7, out of which eight were hoax calls. In 2024, it recorded 6,099 calls (including seven false alarms); in 2023, there were 4,480 calls (seven false alarms); and in 2022, there were 4,213 calls (with two false alarms). As of July 7, Kelantan JBPM received 2,053 calls involving 796 fires; 1,173 rescues; 76 special tasks and eight false calls. At a glance, the number of false alarms may seem small but even a single hoax can drain the firemen's time and energy and disrupt their focus, potentially putting real emergencies at greater risk. Farhan Sufyan said the introduction of MERS 999, operated by Telekom Malaysia Bhd, brought some relief but it has not completely eliminated hoax calls. Under MERS 999, every emergency call is screened beforehand. The caller's name, location and other details are recorded, and the nearest fire station receives a call sheet simultaneously, even while the caller is still speaking to the operator. 'This system really helps. But we would still require more information… such as (in the case of fire reports) what type of fire and if there are victims, so that the commander can plan the best strategy,' said Farhan Sufyan. He said there are three main call centres – located in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur; Melaka; and Kuching, Sarawak – handling emergency calls and operating simultaneously. If one centre is busy, the call is automatically routed to another. 'Some people think if a call from Sabah is transferred to Sarawak, it will cause delays. That's not true. Our system is designed to ensure response time remains fast,' he said. However, even the best technology depends on one fundamental thing: accurate and complete information from the caller. 'Technology won't be of much help if the location given to us is not correct (or incomplete)… this is why we need accurate information,' he added. INCOMPLETE ADDRESS Farhan Sufyan then recalled an incident that still haunts him and which occurred when he was attached to JBPM Sabah. He said a caller, sounding breathless and frantic, phoned to report a fire. But the address given was incomplete, so the operations commander tried to ask more questions, such as the names of nearby landmarks or streets. However, in those crucial moments, the fire became bigger. Tragically, three people perished in that fire, not because the windows of the building they were trapped in were barred, but because it took too long for the firefighters to get to the correct location. For emergencies involving JBPM, the nearest fire station will receive the "call sheet" in real time, that is, while the caller is still on the line talking to the operator. 'Moments like that are what determine whether a life is saved or lost,' Farhan Sufyan said. That incident was a costly lesson: technology can speed things up, but lives still hinge on the information provided by the caller. 'In an emergency, that information is the very first lifeline,' he added. He also said JBPM Kelantan makes a police report each time a prank call is received. 'This is not about seeking revenge but to prevent the same thing from happening again,' he said, adding that in Sabah, the fire department has successfully traced and prosecuted several hoax callers. Members of the public who make false emergency calls can be charged under Section 233 (2) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, and upon conviction, they face a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both. Urging the public to use the MERS 999 line only for genuine emergencies, Farhan Sufyan said: 'Don't treat it like a joke. Because for the firemen getting on that truck, they don't know if the call is real or fake. But they'll go anyway because in that moment, they know someone's life might depend on it.
Sinar Daily
5 days ago
- General
- Sinar Daily
When every second counts: How fake calls put lives at risk
KOTA BHARU - Behind the routine sound of an emergency call ringing lies a harsh, often overlooked reality: every fake call isn't a harmless prank - it can mean the difference between saving a life and losing one. Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director Farhan Sufyan Borhan said that although Malaysia's emergency response system has become increasingly sophisticated through 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 also recalled his experience before the implementation of MERS 999, when the fire department had to bear the cost of every incoming call. "Some people called because they were broken-hearted, others used public phones just to make jokes. Back then, it was the fire department that had to foot the phone bill,' he said. Now, with the MERS 999 system operated free of charge by TM, every emergency call undergoes a preliminary screening process. Additionally, caller details such as name and location are recorded to help expedite response times. Behind the routine sound of an emergency call ringing lies a harsh, often overlooked reality: every fake call isn't a harmless prank - it can mean the difference between saving a life and losing one. Photo for illustrative purposes only - Canva "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. 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. He added 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,' he said. He also addressed a common misconception among the public: "Some people assume that if a call from Sabah is routed to Sarawak, it causes delays. In reality, it doesn't; the system is designed to ensure a fast and efficient response, no matter which centre handles the call. He also recalled a tragic incident during his time in Sabah, where 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 victims weren't trapped by a locked grill, but the fire spread too quickly,' he said, adding that the case served as a critical reminder of the importance of providing complete and accurate details during emergency calls. While no fake callers have been prosecuted in Kelantan so far, Farhan Sufyan noted that in Sabah, legal action was taken after offenders were successfully traced. "We will lodge a police report for further action. These fake calls are not just a nuisance, they can delay aid to actual victims,' he stressed. He also described making fake or prank calls as not only a crime but a dangerous hobby that can cost lives. He urged the public to use the MERS 999 emergency line responsibly and only in genuine emergencies, emphasising that such irresponsible behaviour could delay help for real victims. According to Kelantan JBPM statistics, as of July 7 this year, the department has received 2,053 calls, including 796 fire cases, 1,173 rescue operations, 76 special tasks, and eight fake calls. In 2024, a total of 6,099 calls were recorded, comprising 3,112 fires, 2,755 rescues, 208 special tasks, and seven fake calls. This compares to 4,480 calls in 2023 (1,820 fires, 2,571 rescues, 82 special tasks, and seven fake calls) and 4,213 calls in 2022, which included 1,111 fires, 2,122 rescues, 978 special tasks, and two fake calls. - BERNAMA
Barnama
13-07-2025
- General
- Barnama
When Seconds Matter: Fake Emergency Calls Risk Lives And Legal Action
KOTA BHARU, July 13 (Bernama) -- Behind the routine sound of an emergency call ringing lies a harsh, often overlooked reality: every fake call isn't a harmless prank - it can mean the difference between saving a life and losing one. Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director Farhan Sufyan Borhan said that although Malaysia's emergency response system has become increasingly sophisticated through 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 also recalled his experience before the implementation of MERS 999, when the fire department had to bear the cost of every incoming call. 'Some people called because they were broken-hearted, others used public phones just to make jokes. Back then, it was the fire department that had to foot the phone bill,' he said. Now, with the MERS 999 system operated free of charge by TM, every emergency call undergoes a preliminary screening process. Additionally, 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. 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. He added 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,' he said.
New Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Two days before wedding, firefighter passes away
KOTA BARU: Just two days before his wedding ceremony, firefighter Mohd Kasyfi Remali has passed away. Mohd Kasyfi, 42, who served at the Operations Centre Branch of the Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), died at 11.57am today at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital (Hospital USM) in Kubang Kerian due to thyroid complications that led to high blood pressure. Preparations for the wedding feast had already been completed, with more than 500 guests invited to celebrate what was to be Mohd Kasyfi's second marriage. His first wife passed away in August last year after battling breast cancer. His fiancée, Zabida Jusoh, 40, said she was overcome with a mix of grief and disbelief following the loss of someone she had only known for four months. "As the big day drew near, he seemed so excited. We were supposed to be solemnised on Friday night, with the wedding reception scheduled for the following day. "But now, everything has been shattered. Seeing all the preparations, including the wedding gifts and cooking utensils in the kitchen, just breaks my heart," she said when met at Kampung Sering today. Zabida said the couple had already booked two sets of wedding attire and a bridal dais, but now all of that was in vain. She has yet to inform the bridal boutique of the cancellation. She added that Mohd Kasyfi never mentioned having any health issues, although during a routine HIV screening two weeks ago, doctors noted his blood pressure was high but did not advise any follow-up treatment. "Two days ago, we had just returned from ordering our wedding cake. He chose chocolate because he had a craving for it. After that, we stopped at a restaurant to buy rice. "When he reached for his wallet to pay, his left hand began trembling, and he complained of dizziness before getting into the car. His condition quickly worsened, and we rushed him to the hospital," she said. Zabida said he underwent surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain and was later placed in a medically induced coma, but he did not recover.
