KOTA KINABALU: Questions on whether the Malaysian Emergency Response System (MERS-999) should be centralised in Putrajaya are being raised amid claims that firemen arrived late at Tuesday’s (Sept 7) Kg Hungab fire, which saw a family of four killed.

       Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said from a witness account as reported in some media platforms, the 999 call was ‘too long’, as the responder had asked too many questions prior to sending help.

       The witness, who was also a neighbour to the perished family in Penampang, felt that he wasted a lot of time explaining the location of Penampang and Donggongon to the respondent on the other end of the line.

       Those who perished were Matthew Wong, 50, his wife Jecky Vun Kon Fung, 47, and their sons Brendon, 17 and Eric, 15.

       The caller, who wanted to be identified only as Chai, said according to his phone log, he first dialled 999 at 2.48am, and the second at 3.04am, with firemen arriving a few minutes after the second call.

       However, according to the state Fire and Rescue Department, they had received a distress call at 2.52am, and immediately rushed to the scene about 4km away.

       “The current system of directing all emergency calls to Putrajaya needs to be rectified because it adds delay when responding to crisis situations,” Shafie said.

       "Why can't we have a Sabah-based emergency response system, where the responders would be clearly aware of areas being mentioned?” he said, adding that this should be seriously reviewed in order to improve the country's emergency response system.

       Likewise, SAPP said emergency units such as firemen and others in Sabah should stop being directed by their peninsula headquarters.

       SAPP deputy president Edward Dagul said the remote control system even for emergency services is contrary to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

       “Kuala Lumpur is more than 1,500km across the South China Sea. It is impractical and slow to have to divert emergency calls to Putrajaya or KL,” he said.

       “How can we expect the responder in Putrajaya to know the location in Sabah?” he said, arguing that the Kg Hungab tragedy could have been averted if the response team arrived earlier.

       As such, he said Sabah should control its own 999 line to avoid miscommunication and provide faster response during emergencies.

       However, Sabah Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Mohd Affendy K Ramin said calling 999 from anywhere in Malaysia is actually a faster way to get help.

       “The 999 call centre is actually very accurate (in detecting the location) because when a caller calls, the location of the caller is automatically pinged on the centre’s system," he said.

       Mohd Affendy said the responder would ask basic questions like the caller’s name, confirmation of location, and then press a button to alert the appropriate emergency department.

       “For example, the responder will ask what the case is about and if the caller says ‘theft’, the responder will copy the call to the police department,” Affendy said.

       He said once the call has been copied, the relevant department or agency needed would immediately move and send help, including getting an ambulance if injuries are involved.

       “There shouldn’t be an issue of delay because everything is automatically linked once the calls come in, and the details are obtained,” he said.

       MERS 999 includes five departments - the police, Fire and Rescue Department, Malaysian Civil Defence Force, hospital, and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.