Kuala lumpur: Technical disruptions faced during the implementation of the Next Generation Emergency Services 999 (NG999) platform have been fully resolved following a collaborative meeting between the Communications Ministry, Health Ministry (MOH), and Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM), as announced in the Dewan Negara today.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil revealed that the meeting, which included the Health Minister and was held at TM headquarters, successfully addressed several issues related to the system’s implementation. These disruptions, predominantly concerning personnel, have been reorganised by TM and the MOH, ensuring smooth operation henceforth.
Responding to concerns raised by Senator Dr A. Ligeshwaran about potential action against TM for problems during the initial implementation phase, Minister Fahmi indicated that a joint committee would review the situation. Should any breaches of contract be identified, appropriate penalties would be enforced as per the agreement terms.
Minister Fahmi clarified that TM, as the telecommunications infrastructure provider, is tasked with managing the NG999 system. This system, which replaces the Malaysian Emergency Response Services (MERS999), aims to streamline emergency call management across various agencies, including the MOH, Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Civil Defence Force (APM), and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). The NG999 system was developed with a RM1.25 billion budget covering 12 years of development and operations.
Furthermore, Minister Fahmi addressed safety concerns regarding children’s exposure to harmful online content, highlighting the government’s consideration of a minimum age limit for social media use under the proposed Online Safety Act 2025. Between January 2022 and November 30, 2023, numerous takedown requests for inappropriate content were processed, resulting in significant content removal from social media platforms.
In response to the challenge of online gambling, Minister Fahmi reported a high success rate in removing gambling-related content following substantial takedown requests. He also highlighted ongoing governmental support for local digital game development, facilitated by the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).
Addressing cable maintenance concerns in rural areas, Minister Fahmi noted that service providers and companies involved in infrastructure installation are responsible for maintaining fibre-optic cables, ensuring connectivity across the region.