KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has clarified that the RM1.25 billion contract awarded to Telekom Malaysia Bhd for the Next Generation Malaysian Emergency Response Services 999 (NG MERS 999) system covers the full cost of installation, operations and management over an 11-year period.
“The RM1.25 billion contract is for the design, development, installation, testing, commissioning, operation, management and maintenance of the entire NG MERS 999 system over 11 years, amounting to about RM113 million per year.
“The annual operating cost for the two applications (SaveME999 and the Responder App) is RM880,000, which is only 0.78 per cent.
“SaveME999 has been in development since 2013,” he said after visiting the control centre with Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil yesterday.
The SaveME999 (for the public) and the Responder App (for responders) were developed to support the NG MERS 999 system.
Dzulkefly said the SaveME999 application serves as an addition to the NG MERS 999 system and that the 999 emergency hotline continues to operate as usual.
He said Health Ministry ambulances were functioning normally, with workflow adjustments made to improve the handling of medical emergency calls in line with the ministry’s needs and a proven operating model.
He urged the public to use the 999 line only for genuine emergencies and to be considerate of responders adapting to the system.
Yesterday, Dzulkefly and Fahmi said in a joint statement that a committee involving the Health and Communications ministries would be established to ensure the efficiency and reliability of the NG MERS 999.
They said the committee would review technical and operational matters, oversee the seamless delivery of emergency services and submit weekly reports to the cabinet.
NG MERS 999, developed to enhance the nation’s emergency response through a faster, more accurate, modern and inclusive communications network, became fully operational on Nov 16.
It replaces the MERS 999 system introduced in 2007.
The system covers 837 operational locations, with an estimated annual operating cost of about RM113 million, reflecting expanded coverage, improved infrastructure, interagency integration and strengthened cybersecurity requirements.
The SaveME999 app, developed in 2013, now integrates three applications — SaveMEBlind, SaveMEDeaf and SaveMEPolice — designed to digitally transmit location and emergency information and continues to serve as an additional channel within the NG MERS 999 ecosystem.
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