KOTA KINABALU - An afternoon fire took place at a four-digit betting outlet in Lido, Penampang. According to Chong Pit Fah, who was at the scene, received complaints by shop operators that the emergency number 999 was not efficient in handling distress calls.
A panicky next door shop owner who immediately rang 999 in an attempt to call the Fire and Rescue Services Department (Bomba) was irked by the operator who seemed confused with where Kota Kinabalu is, and who thought it was in Sarawak instead of Sabah.
Pit Fah, who is Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Information Chief, said the number 999 goes through Kuala Lumpur now and that is the reason why these call operators from KL or other parts of Malaysia are ignorant about Sabah or Sarawak's towns, cities and capitals.
He said the distress call number should be in Kota Kinabalu and can redirect calls to the Fire and Rescue Services Department, Ambulance or Police in an instant. This he said, will avoid delays and could save lives due to more efficiency.
Chong said this is one such case of many examples of Sabah losing control or autonomy of many things because almost everything are increasingly controlled by Kuala Lumpur.
The Sportstoto outlet was gutted and its next door shops slightly damaged while a car which was parked in front was damaged. Fortunately, firemen arrived in time to control the fire from further spreading to other shops.
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