KUALA LUMPUR: A joint special committee will meet on Monday (Nov 24) to review all technical, operational and inter-agency coordination issues in the Next Generation Malaysian Emergency Response Services 999 (NG MERS 999) system, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister said that the meeting will look at all issues raised over the system including its integration with other private ambulances services which are not registered with the Health Ministry.
"We will ask Telekom Malaysia (TM) to integrate the system with the Digital MyKad including views on the user-friendliness of the SaveME999 app," he told reporters at a press conference after closing an awareness seminar on online scam organised by Tun Abdul Razak Broadcasting and Information Institute (IPPTAR) on Sunday (Nov 23).
Fahmi also said that the SaveME999 app was initially developed in 2013 but has been improved by integrating three existing apps – SaveMEBlind, SaveMEDeaf and SaveMEPolice – to send locations and emergency information digitally.
As such, he clarified that the SaveME999 app was not developed at a cost of RM1.25bil.
"It costs about RM880,000 a year to manage the system of which a large portion is used for data management and not development," he added.
Fahmi also said that there were operators of private ambulances services that were also integrated with the system.
He cited activist Uncle Kentang as an example where 12 ambulances operating under his were not registered.
On Nov 16, the Malaysian Emergency Responses 999 (MERS999) system was replaced by NG999.
Glitches were reported to have occurred in the newly launched NG999 by some users.
Following this, a special joint task force, comprising the Health Ministry and Communications Ministry, was set up to review the effectiveness of the system.
On July 1 last year, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the new system integrates web-based digital mapping, caller ID, geolocation services, artificial intelligence and mobile smart applications into emergency incident management, providing more efficient assistance nationwide.
NG999 is an integrated strategic digital system that enhances resource and data sharing between emergency call centres and related central agencies, improving emergency service efficiency.
The improved NG999 has expanded to more than 800 locations nationwide, a twofold increase compared to the number of locations under MERS999.
