Analysis of the Increase in Fake Emergency Calls to the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department

Apr 26, 2026, 04:18

Introduction

The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department is dealing with a growing number of fake emergency calls. These fraudulent reports waste operational resources and put the department's ability to respond to real emergencies at risk.

Main Body

Statistics show a clear increase in prank calls, which have risen by about 30 percent in recent years. The number of cases grew from 141 in 2023 to 196 in 2024, and reached 255 the following year. By mid-April 2026, 63 cases had already been recorded, with many reports coming from Penang and Kedah, especially around midnight. Director-General Nor Hisham Mohammad emphasized that these incidents cause significant operational waste. He stated that each false report wastes about 60 minutes of time, including the time needed to prepare, travel, and check the site. A typical response requires seven staff members, a fire engine, and an ambulance. Furthermore, a single fire truck uses 5.73 liters of diesel per minute. Recent examples include fake reports of a forest fire in Tanjung Bungah on April 3 and a fire at the City Hall training institute in Kuala Lumpur on March 25. The Director-General suggested that these calls are hard to track because mobile phones provide anonymity and are easy to access. He criticized the behavior of these callers, noting that some may act out of simple curiosity. The main risk is that the department's capacity to help people is reduced, which could be dangerous if a real emergency happens at the same time. To solve this, the department is calling for better technology, public education, and stricter legal action. While the department identifies the calls, the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) handles the prosecution. Under the law, offenders could face a fine of up to RM500,000, two years in prison, or both.

Conclusion

The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department is now calling for a joint effort between different agencies to stop the rise of fake calls and ensure that emergency resources are used efficiently.

Vocabulary Learning

anonymity (n.)
the state of being unknown / namelessness匿名；不公開姓名
Example:The donor requested total anonymity to avoid any public attention.
emphasize (v.)
stress / to give special importance to something強調；着重
Example:The teacher emphasized the importance of checking the work before submission.
fraudulent (adj.)
intended to deceive / dishonest欺詐的；不誠實的
Example:The company was shut down after authorities discovered their fraudulent activities.
operational (adj.)
relating to the activities of a business or organization / functional運作上的；操作的
Example:The new hospital will become fully operational by the end of next month.
prosecution (n.)
the process of charging someone with a crime / legal action起訴；檢控
Example:The evidence collected by the police was strong enough to lead to a successful prosecution.

Sentence Learning

Statistics show a clear increase in prank calls, which have risen by about 30 percent in recent years.
Non-defining Relative Clause: This clause adds non-essential but descriptive information about the noun 'prank calls'非限定性關係子句：此子句為名詞「惡作劇電話」提供非必要但具描述性的補充資訊。
By mid-April 2026, 63 cases had already been recorded, with many reports coming from Penang and Kedah, especially around midnight.
Passive Voice & Past Perfect: This structure emphasizes an action completed before a specific point in time in the past被動語態與過去完成式：此結構強調在過去某個特定時間點之前已經完成的動作。
The Director-General suggested that these calls are hard to track because mobile phones provide anonymity and are easy to access.
Adjective + Infinitive Structure: This pattern (hard to track/easy to access) is used to describe the nature of an action形容詞 + 不定式結構：此句式（hard to track/easy to access）用於描述某項行動的性質或難易程度。
The main risk is that the department's capacity to help people is reduced, which could be dangerous if a real emergency happens at the same time.
Sentential Relative Clause: The word 'which' refers back to the entire preceding situation rather than a single noun指代全句的關係子句：此處的「which」是指代前面提到的整個情況，而非單一名詞。
While the department identifies the calls, the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) handles the prosecution.
Subordinating Conjunction for Contrast: 'While' is used here to contrast the different responsibilities of two organizations表示對比的從屬連詞：此處使用「While」來對比兩個機構之間不同的職責。