Thursday December 6, 2007
One number for distressed folk to call for help
By V.P. SUJATA
PUTRAJAYA: 15999 – this is the number to call if you are a victim of domestic violence, child abuse or a natural disaster.
This hotline, called Talian Nur, will be the lifeline providing early intervention for these victims.
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Help is at hand: Abdullah and Shahrizat at the launch of ‘Talian Nur’ at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya yesterday. The helpline will provide early intervention for victims of domestic violence, child abuse or natural disasters. — NORAFIFI EHSAN / The Star |
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, when launching the integrated one-stop call centre established by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, hoped the public would use it properly and not make crank calls.
He added that those responding to the calls must be responsible to take quick action as the callers may be in an emergency situation.
When testing the line later, Abdullah advised the operator answering his call to provide feedback to the ministry on shortcomings of the hotline to ensure the system worked smoothly.
Speaking to reporters earlier, minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil said the 29 call agents would be working in three shifts to answer calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from the call centre in Kuala Lumpur.
The ministry’s current two helplines – TeleDera and Healthline – have been consolidated with Talian Nur, she said, adding that police would also help to deal with calls involving criminal activities.
She, however, hoped that those wanting to call the police would continue dialling 999.
“The call centre allows assistance to all types of social-woes victims with greater speed,” she said, adding that the hotline was a necessity with the increasing number of social issues and natural disaster cases being reported.
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