The Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) has expressed concern over a sharp rise in false emergency calls over the past three years, warning that such incidents not only waste critical resources but also compromise the effectiveness of rescue operations.
JBPM Director-General Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad said the department recorded 141 false calls in 2023, which rose to 196 in 2024 and further jumped to 255 last year.
“Every call we receive requires a proper response. In some cases, responders are halfway to the scene before the caller admits it’s a false alarm. In other instances, when crews arrive, the reported incident doesn’t exist at all,” he explained during the 2026 JBPM Annual Parade.
Nor Hisham emphasized that false calls result in wasted time, logistics, and financial resources, but the bigger concern is that when fire units are dispatched to distant locations unnecessarily, nearby areas are left unprotected, potentially delaying assistance during real emergencies.
He added that this situation forces support to be rerouted from other stations, further disrupting emergency response efficiency.
To address the issue, JBPM plans to discuss solutions with the Ministry of Communications to reduce the number of false calls.
As a mitigation measure, the department is emphasizing better early communication between control room officers and callers to gather detailed information before dispatching full units.
“In certain cases, officers will make a reasonable judgment on whether to deploy fire engines immediately or send an assessment officer first. Communication in the control room is crucial because what some may consider trivial could be a genuine emergency for someone else,” Nor Hisham said.
