‘Help, NG MERS 999 is not working’

 

Panic hits public as new emergency system is stricken

PETALING JAYA: It was a matter of life and death for some, but help was not forthcoming – Malaysia’s newly-launched emergency system is having teething problems.

This included delays in dispatching ambulances for emergencies and ambulances not showing up, leaving victims and patients with medical emergencies in dire straits.

A first responder said the Next Generation Malaysian Emergency Response Services

ALSO READ: Emergency services running well, say ministries

He said it detects cases which were at a distance and outside of the stipulated radius, making it difficult to quickly attend to patients who are in serious condition.

“The system was constantly down and showed error messages when alerts were sent to the hospital.

“Sometimes it would hang and we had to refresh it several times for the alert to go through,” said the first responder on condition of anonymity.

“We should just stick to the former Malaysian Emergency Response 999 (MERS999) system.

“This system should have been properly tested first. There was a reason why we had borders when it comes to responding. This was to ensure quick response to emergencies. However, this borderless techno­logy is not helping. In fact, it is hampering efforts to render quick aid,” he added.

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The Star learnt that in one fatal case, there was no response on the app even after 15 minutes.

In another, where an accident occurred at around 8.30am, an ambulance only arri­ved after 10am.

In another case, an accident victim had to be taken to hospital in the vehicle of a passerby as the ambulance did not arrive on time, the victim’s brother claimed.

In one case in Telok Air Tawar, Butter­worth, two ambulances were sent to the same spot and 999 could not identify which was the actual ambulance sent, said Sena­tor Dr RA Lingeshwaran, adding that he had received many complaints that the system was not functioning properly.

“This failure has a direct impact on the safety and lives of the people,” he said in a statement.

A survey on social media also showed claims of some users lamenting their experiences including long waits for ambulan­ces in emergencies.

“This situation is no longer a minor technical issue; it has the potential to become a national disaster that could cost lives. The failure of such a critical system, which ser­ves as the nation’s lifeline, is completely unacceptable,” Lingeshwaran said.

He urged the government to immediately implement urgent rectification measu­res and explain the cause of the failure and the steps being taken to prevent a recurrence.

“Conduct a thorough audit of the entire NG999 infrastructure and operations,” he said. “I also call upon members of the public who have used the NG999 System since its launch on Saturday to share your experiences with me. Your feedback is crucial for us to push for more accountable imp­rovements.”

Lingeshwaran said he had also been contacted by several NGO ambulance services informing him that they are now receiving non-stop emergency calls directly from the public.

The NG999 went live on Nov 16.

The Communications and Health ministries as well as Telekom Malaysia Bhd said in a joint statement that the Health Ministry has also continu­ed to strengthen efforts to enhance field response.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Health (MOH), efforts to strengthen on-ground response continue to be enhanced through the addition of ambulances, the reorganisation of personnel deployment in strategic areas, as well as the involvement of volunteer bodies and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as part of the nation’s emergency response capacity. Continuous assessments of coordination capability and asset readiness are also being carried out together with the relevant agencies,” they said in a joint statement.

In July last year, Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, TM Technology Services Sdn Bhd (TM Tech) entered into a RM1.25bil concession agreement with the government, to develop the system.

NG999 is an integrated strategic digital system that was supposed to enhance resource and data sharing between emergency call centres and related central agencies, thus improving the efficiency of emergency services.

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• Emergency services running well, say ministrie

How to minimise the risk of snakes entering homes

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People advised to be vigilant as sightings are on the rise amid heatwave

PETALING JAYA: The scorching heat has forced snakes to seek refuge in human homes.

Apart from dark corners, shoes are also a potential shelter for the reptiles, as seen in a video that went viral on social media earlier this month.

Fire and Rescue Department deputy director-general (operations) Datuk Edwin Galan Teruki said the department had received 13,895 distress calls from the public seeking help to remove snakes and other wildlife from their premises in the first four months of this year.

The figure shows an increasing trend, compared to 12,013 calls received in the same period last year.

Edwin advised the public to remain calm if they spot snakes in their homes. 

“Do not be rash or panic as this may threaten the snake and trigger its defence mechanism to attack.

“Be it venomous or not, be cautious and try to confine the snake in one area to make it easier for catchers to locate and remove it.

“Keep an eye on the snake from a safe distance,” he said, adding that the public could call the 999 emergency hotline for help.

Edwin added that good housekeeping could help deter snakes from entering and hiding in homes.

“Do not keep food waste in the open as it can attract rats, frogs or even lizards, which are prey for snakes.

“If you have livestock or pets, it is advisable to set up safety nets around their enclosures,” Edwin said.

In the case of a snake bite, limit movement, cover the wound with a clean cloth and never attempt to suck the venom out, he said.

As it can be difficult to determine whether a snake is venomous or not, Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia president and chief executive officer Andrew Sebastian said it is best to avoid close contact altogether.

“Take a picture of the snake. In the case of a snake bite, the photo can help identify the type of snake and the correct anti-venom,” he said.

Malaysia Civil Defence Force disaster management and operations director Col (PA) Sharudin Md Zain said houses, trash disposal areas, water outlets, shoes and toilet bowls could be the hiding place for snakes.

“Fixing safety nets at windows or ventilation and water outlets can be an option.

“Snakes may also be hiding inside shoes or the toilet, so check them before use,” he said, adding that the public should avoid touching or holding the animal.

Contrary to popular belief, Malaysian Nature Society’s Selangor Branch Herpetofauna Group lead coordinator Chan Yik Khan meanwhile dismissed the myth that sulphur could keep snakes away.

“Sulphur does not repel snakes. The most effective method is to make sure that the surroundings do not appeal to them.

“Remove unused flower pots and declutter the area,” he said.

Chan said snakes are generally timid creatures and prefer tight and dark spaces to hide in when they are not foraging.

“Snakes are incredibly adapted to urban environments and they are likely living around you already.

“This is why some people occasionally find snakes resting on their curtain frame,” he said.

He said the most common urban snakes include the common wolf snake, the reticulated pythons and a couple of rat snakes.

With regard to heat, Chan said snakes are exothermic animals, which means their body temperature is regulated by the external temperature in their environment.

“Snakes will try finding shelter under cooler conditions – which includes tiled homes, as compared to urban areas devoid of shade.

“Being able to escape from the blazing sun is vital for their survival or they may overheat and die,” he said. 

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