JOHOR BARU: A fire call can mean life or death, but for fire officer Muhammad Zaharul Asyraf Zaharin, some have led to empty scenes due to costly false alarms.
The nine-year Fire and Rescue Department officer, who previously served in Kedah, said prank calls remain a persistent problem, diverting critical resources from real emergencies.
One case still stands out.
“Two years ago, we received a call about a fire in Langkawi. We mobilised a fire engine and an ambulance, but when we arrived, it turned out to be a prank,” he said.
Determined to act, the team tracked down the caller, only to discover the culprit was an eight-year-old boy using a house landline.
“We didn’t take him to court, but we made sure he understood how serious it was. We also spoke to his parents,” said Muhammad Zaharul, who transferred to Johor a year ago.
He said prank calls can be prosecuted under laws enforced by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, as well as provisions under the Fire Services Act, which carries a fine of up to RM20,000, jail of up to three years, or both.
Beyond hoaxes, he said firefighters have also received calls from lonely individuals seeking companionship over the hotline.
Meanwhile, Johor Fire and Rescue Department operations management branch chief Winnie Kasing Jackson said the state recorded 14 prank call cases last year across multiple districts.
“The false reports ranged from shop fires and drowning incidents to road accidents, rubbish fires and even requests to catch snakes or wild animals,” she said.
“In one instance, we responded to a reported house fire, only to find the premises locked with no fire or occupants.”
Most prank calls, she added, were made via the 999 emergency line or directly to fire stations.
