66. Talian Nur hotline 15999 launched

Remember this number: 15999. It is the number of "Talian Nur", the hotline link to enable early intervention for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and natural disasters.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, launched the integrated one-stop call centre set up by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry Wednesday.

He urged the public to use it properly and not make crank calls, adding that those responding to the calls must also act quickly to relay the information.

Speaking to reporters earlier, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil said the 29 call agents would work on three shifts to answer calls 24-hours a day and seven days a week from the call centre based in Kuala Lumpur.

She said the ministry's existing two helplines - TeleDera and Healthline had been consolidated with Talian Nur, adding that the police would also help dealing with calls involving criminal activities.

She, however, hoped that those wanting tojust call the police to continue dialling 999.

"The call centre allowed 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," she said.

thestar 5/12/07