MEDIA CAMPAIGN REDUCES PRANK CALLS - MINISTER

KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- The number of prank calls received by the
Malaysian Emergency Rescue Services (MERC) has dropped following a media
campaign on legal actions against offenders.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim
said the number of hoax calls dropped to 64 per cent of one million emergency
calls last year and up to February this year.

He said prank calls accounted for 97 per cent of two million emergency calls
in 2007.

"I hope the number of prank calls will drop further and eventually we have
no more hoax calls," he said.

The MERC integrates emergency calls to the Civil Defence Department, the
Fire and Rescue Department, the police and ambulance to a single number, 999.

"In 2007, we have emergency numbers like 991 and 994 but now they are
integrated into 999 to ease callers and this is in line with the 1Malaysia
concept, a single number," he added.

He said those who make hoax calls can be charged under Section 233 of the
Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 which carries a fine up to RM50,000 or
imprisonment up to five years or both.

Rais said 25 prank calls were being investigated.

He said the ministry would conduct a study on response times to emergency
calls by the four departments in an effort to improve their services.

-- BERNAMA