ID :
79964
Tue, 09/15/2009 - 09:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/79964
The shortlink copeid
PRANK CALLS: MOBILE PHONE DEALERS, NO ANGELS EITHER!
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- It appears that pranksters are not the only culprits making nuisance calls. Some mobile phone dealers are no angels, either!
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has discovered
that mobile phone dealers also abused the 999 Emergency Service by dialing
999 to check activation status of new SIM cards sold by them.
Warning the dealers not to use the emergency service for testing purposes,
it said in a statement Monday that stern action would be taken against those
found to have misused the service.
It said, despite numerous campaigns and advertisements in the print and
electronic media denouncing prank calls, the miscreants seem unperturbed and
continue harassing the 999 Malaysian Emergency Response Centre.
In June alone, of the 1.073 million calls received by the centre,
63.84 percent or 685,516 were prank calls, noted the MCMC.
It said that although the percentage of prank calls had continuously
decreased,
"the statistics point that the abuse is still considerably high and imposes a
serious burden on emergency services.
"The commission would like to remind the public not to abuse the 999
Emergency
Service, and should only use the service for emergency cases and not deprive
those in real need of assistance.
"Abuse of this service would result in inefficiencies which could result in
loss of property and even worse, lives," said the MCMC, warning that abusing the
emergency service was an offence under Section 233 of the Communications and
Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA 1998).
Those convicted under the act can be fined up to RM50,000 (US$1=RM3.5) or
imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year or both.
To date, the MCMC has prosecuted two cases, with 25 other cases under
investigation.
In addition to this, the MCMC has directed all telecommunication service
providers to take action to suspend and terminate lines that are found to make
repeated prank calls to the emergency service.
Following this, since May this year, 68 telephone lines were terminated
while 257 others were suspended.
Last October, the single number, 999, for all emergency services was
launched, integrating all emergency call numbers such as 991, 993 and 994, to
make it easier for the general public to seek emergency services, either from
the police, fire and rescue department, hospital and civil defence.
This service is provided to all fixed lines and mobile telephone services,
while mobile telephone users can also dial 112, as this is the internationally
recommended emergency number for mobile telephone service.
Meanwhile, the MCMC has urged parents and guardians to monitor the use of
telephones at home by their children. The public, on the other hand, is also
encouraged to cooperate with the commission by reporting any misuse of the 999
numbers to the MCMC.
Complaints and information regarding abuse of the 999 Emergency Service can
be made to Complaint Bureau SKMM by calling 1-800-888-030 or email to
aduanskmm@cmc.gov.my.
-- BERNAMA
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has discovered
that mobile phone dealers also abused the 999 Emergency Service by dialing
999 to check activation status of new SIM cards sold by them.
Warning the dealers not to use the emergency service for testing purposes,
it said in a statement Monday that stern action would be taken against those
found to have misused the service.
It said, despite numerous campaigns and advertisements in the print and
electronic media denouncing prank calls, the miscreants seem unperturbed and
continue harassing the 999 Malaysian Emergency Response Centre.
In June alone, of the 1.073 million calls received by the centre,
63.84 percent or 685,516 were prank calls, noted the MCMC.
It said that although the percentage of prank calls had continuously
decreased,
"the statistics point that the abuse is still considerably high and imposes a
serious burden on emergency services.
"The commission would like to remind the public not to abuse the 999
Emergency
Service, and should only use the service for emergency cases and not deprive
those in real need of assistance.
"Abuse of this service would result in inefficiencies which could result in
loss of property and even worse, lives," said the MCMC, warning that abusing the
emergency service was an offence under Section 233 of the Communications and
Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA 1998).
Those convicted under the act can be fined up to RM50,000 (US$1=RM3.5) or
imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year or both.
To date, the MCMC has prosecuted two cases, with 25 other cases under
investigation.
In addition to this, the MCMC has directed all telecommunication service
providers to take action to suspend and terminate lines that are found to make
repeated prank calls to the emergency service.
Following this, since May this year, 68 telephone lines were terminated
while 257 others were suspended.
Last October, the single number, 999, for all emergency services was
launched, integrating all emergency call numbers such as 991, 993 and 994, to
make it easier for the general public to seek emergency services, either from
the police, fire and rescue department, hospital and civil defence.
This service is provided to all fixed lines and mobile telephone services,
while mobile telephone users can also dial 112, as this is the internationally
recommended emergency number for mobile telephone service.
Meanwhile, the MCMC has urged parents and guardians to monitor the use of
telephones at home by their children. The public, on the other hand, is also
encouraged to cooperate with the commission by reporting any misuse of the 999
numbers to the MCMC.
Complaints and information regarding abuse of the 999 Emergency Service can
be made to Complaint Bureau SKMM by calling 1-800-888-030 or email to
aduanskmm@cmc.gov.my.
-- BERNAMA
