In Malaysia, dial 999 for all emergencies — police, ambulance, fire, civil defence and maritime assistance. Calls are routed through the Malaysian Emergency Response Services (MERS 999) system. Starting 1 October 2007, four agencies (civil defence, police, health and fire) were consolidated under a single number; the maritime agency was added later, making five agencies today. Calls are free and recorded; the SaveME 999 app sends GPS location as well as video, text and multimedia reports.
- 999 is Malaysia's sole emergency number; it replaced 991 (civil defence) and 994 (fire) from 1 October 2007.
- MERS 999 now unites five agencies: PDRM (police), JBPM (Fire and Rescue), Ministry of Health (ambulance), APMM (maritime) and JPAM/APM (civil defence) — four of them consolidated in 2007, with maritime added later.
- Hoax calls can be fined up to RM500,000 or imprisonment of up to two years or both under Subsection 233(2) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
- The Next Generation system (NG MERS 999) launched on 16 November 2025 with Advanced Mobile Location GPS positioning and the SaveME 999 app.
Who this applies to: Anyone in Malaysia who needs to reach emergency assistance — residents, tourists and Persons with Disabilities.
On this page
A single number — 999 — connects you to Malaysia’s five emergency agencies, whether you need the police, an ambulance, the fire brigade, civil defence or help at sea. You do not need to remember a different number for each agency; the system behind it routes the call for you.
What happens when you dial 999?
Your call reaches the operations centre of the Malaysian Emergency Response Services (MERS 999), an integrated system that combines the emergency services of five agencies under a single number. The operator identifies the type of emergency, the location and key information, then routes the call along with that data to the right agency.
The system is built with computer-aided dispatch technology, geographic information systems (GIS), computer-telephone interfaces, voice recording and a medical expert system — so that calls are handled consistently across all agencies. Calls to 999 are free and are recorded and tracked to deter hoax reports. MERS 999 is operated through a partnership between the Government of Malaysia and Telekom Malaysia Berhad.
Which agencies can be reached through 999?
A single 999 call reaches all five of the following agencies:
| Agency | When to call it |
|---|---|
| Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) | Crime, road accidents, public safety |
| Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM/Bomba) | Fires, rescue operations |
| Ministry of Health Malaysia (ambulance/hospital) | Medical emergencies |
| Civil Defence Force (JPAM/APM) | Humanitarian assistance, disasters |
| Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) | Emergencies at sea |
How did 991 and 994 become one?
Previously, the public had to remember separate numbers. The 991 line (civil defence) was launched on 21 May 1995, starting in Kuala Lumpur before being expanded nationwide by 13 December 2000.
On 1 October 2007, four agencies — civil defence (JPAM), police (PDRM), health (KKM) and fire (JBPM) — were consolidated under a single number, 999, replacing old numbers such as 991 and 994. The maritime enforcement agency (APMM) was added later, bringing the total to five agencies today. Two MERS call centres became fully operational in 2008, and coverage was extended with the addition of seven states — including Sabah and Sarawak — by 2012. Today, use 999 for all emergencies.
What are SaveME 999 and the next-generation system?
On 16 November 2025, Telekom Malaysia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications, introduced the Next Generation MERS 999 (NG MERS 999) at more than 800 locations nationwide. The new system adds:
- AI-powered analytics and geolocation services
- Advanced Mobile Location (AML) to pinpoint a caller’s position more accurately
- An integrated five-agency platform
- Secure sovereign cloud hosting
Complementing voice calls is the SaveME 999 app. It lets users send video-, text- and multimedia-based emergency alerts along with GPS data, and provides accessibility features for Persons with Disabilities. This means people who are deaf or mute can also reach a 999 operator without a voice call.
| Channel | Use for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 999 call | All emergencies | Free, recorded and tracked |
| SaveME 999 app | Video/text/multimedia reports + GPS location | Includes accessibility for Persons with Disabilities |
What is the penalty for making a hoax call?
The emergency line is not for pranks. According to the official MERS 999 portal, making a hoax call can incur a fine of up to RM500,000 or imprisonment of up to two years, or both, under Subsection 233(2) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. Because every call is recorded and tracked, misuse of this line is easily traced — and every hoax call can delay assistance to someone who genuinely needs it.
What’s next
- Save 999 as your primary emergency number, and download the SaveME 999 app in advance so it is ready to use in an emergency.
- Know what to say: the type of emergency, the most precise location possible, and the number of people involved all speed up the response.
- For details on specific agencies, refer to the PDRM and Fire and Rescue Department profiles on NegaraKu.md, or the official MERS 999 site at 999.gov.my.
What number should I dial for an emergency in Malaysia?
Dial 999 for all types of emergency. A single call is routed to the right agency — police, ambulance, fire, civil defence or maritime — through the MERS 999 system. The call is free.
Do 991 and 994 still work?
Both old numbers — 991 (civil defence) and 994 (fire) — were consolidated into 999 from 1 October 2007. Use 999 for all emergencies.
Can Persons with Disabilities or the deaf reach 999?
Yes. The SaveME 999 app enables video-, text- and multimedia-based emergency alerts, not just voice calls, so Persons with Disabilities can also reach a 999 operator.
The following are deliberately unstated or described only qualitatively until confirmed by a subject-matter expert:
- Senarai tepat dan bilangan agensi yang disatukan pada 1 Oktober 2007 (empat: JPAM, PDRM, KKM, JBPM) berbanding agensi yang ditambah kemudian, serta tarikh sebenar APMM/maritim disertakan.
- Denda panggilan palsu: 999.gov.my menyatakan RM500,000 / 2 tahun di bawah Subseksyen 233(2) AKM 1998 (selepas pindaan 2024); civildefence.gov.my masih menyenaraikan angka lama RM50,000 / 1 tahun. Sahkan angka semasa yang sah.
- Tarikh liputan seluruh negara 13 Disember 2000 dan pembukaan penuh dua pusat panggilan pada 2008.
- Nama tepat tujuh negeri yang ditambah dalam pengembangan 2012 (termasuk Sabah dan Sarawak).
Sources
- Apa Itu MERS 999? — MERS 999
- Malaysia Emergency Response Services (MERS) 999 — MyGovernment (Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Malaysia)
- 999 Emergency Services — Angkatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia (APM)
- TM and Govt Introduce Next-Gen 999 Emergency System — Telekom Malaysia Berhad
Change history
| Version | Date | Change | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01.00 | 1 Aug 2026 | Approved and published. | — |