SaveME 999 : Application for Disabled Person

Have you ever heard about SaveME 999? No? Ok, I will brief you about it so that you have something clear in your mind.

Nowadays, most of Malaysian citizens have their own handphone with different type of brands in the market. Handphone become the most important device for everyone to communicate, socialize and interact with their families, friends and colleagues.

According to Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek (2013), disabled people with a smartphone in this country could now receive emergency service through the free ‘SaveME 999’ application. The government spent almost RM1 billion to develop a comprehensive system as an alternative mechanism for the disabled to contact the Response Centre-Malaysian Emergency Response Service (PPK MERS)999 for emergency assistance.

Through the free smart application, information like the location of a disabled needing emergency assistance could be channelled to the five main agencies involved — Royal Malaysian Police, Fire and Rescue Department, Health Ministry, Civil Defence Department and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency — simultaneously to facilitate immediate action. The emergency service would especially be a boon for disabled persons with hearing and speech impairment.

As at September 2013, nine states have been equipped with the MERS 999 system, and extension of the system to the five other states, namely Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Kelantan and Terengganu will be done in future. This system will also be extended to the general public in June 2014, as it will helps the people to directly contact to PPK MERS 999.

The SaveME 999 application can be downloaded for free via www.999.gov.my by using a smartphone with Android, iOS, BlackBerry and Windows operation systems. The application was the result of the ministry’s collaboration through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission with Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.The same application for the benefit of the visually-impaired was being pursued by TM.

In June 2013, there were 464,967 registered disabled, comprising 42,909 visually-impaired persons, 55,517 hearing-impaired, 153,918 physically-impaired, 170,809 with learning difficulties, 2,725 speech-impaired, 16,998 mentally-impaired and 22,091 with other disabilities.

What is SaveME 999?

• This application is designed for Malaysians with speech-impaired, hearing-impaired or both ONLY.
• SaveME 999 serves as a tool for them to call for emergency assistance via non-voice communication. SaveME 999 application utilizes the internet broadband to transmit the next messages. In addition, it also uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) in smart phones to identify the location of the user. 
• User can activate the application by pressing the ‘SaveME 999’ icon on the smart phone. The GPS address and the sender’s details such as name, telephone number, type of emergency and location will be transmitted automatically to MERS 999 Response Center(RC). 
• Additional information about the incident detail and location detail can be added in the message. This information will assist the emergency agencies to send the help fast and accurate. SaveME 999 will provide distinctive benefits for Malaysian with speech and hearing impaired by providing nationwide coverage catering all types of emergencies.

Source:

http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/09/11/telekom-malaysia-mcmc-launch-saveme999-app/

http://www.malaysianwireless.com/2013/09/saveme999-emergency-services-app-pwd/