The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has expressed concern over a steady increase in false emergency calls over the past three years, warning that such actions could endanger lives and strain rescue resources.
According to JBPM statistics, 141 false calls were recorded in 2023, increasing to 196 in 2024, and reaching 211 as of September 2025.
“Although the total number of false calls remains relatively low, the year-on-year increase is alarming and requires serious attention,” the department said in a statement today.
JBPM noted that false emergency calls disrupt operations and waste vital resources, diverting personnel from genuine emergencies where lives may be at risk.
Records show the department received 129,114 emergency calls in 2023, 118,481 in 2024, and 91,096 as of September 2025.
“Each call received is a valuable opportunity to save lives. False calls are not only an abuse of the system but also have serious implications for response times, fuel consumption, and the physical and mental well-being of rescue personnel,” JBPM said.
The department added that misuse of the emergency line can create a “protection gap,” as rescue teams may be unavailable for real emergencies while responding to false reports.
The public has been reminded not to misuse the 999 emergency hotline, as all calls are recorded and evaluated to verify their authenticity.
Making false emergency calls constitutes an offence under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, punishable by a fine of up to RM50,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.
