Radio ham operators can offer help in emergencies

MALACCA: Malaysia currently has 11,626 amateur radio ham operators who can offer help in emergencies or natural disasters.
Head of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Southern Region, Roszeta Kassim, said that of the total, peninsular Malaysia had 9,919 operators, including 1,090 in Melaka and Johor.
Sabah had 1,487 and Sarawak, 220, she said.
Amateur radio is a scientific hobby that involves construction, study and communication through means of radio waves that brings together fellow enthusiasts who use a set of pre-determined and allowed radio frequencies.
Roszeta said the amateur radio operators played an important role to help the authorities during emergencies and disasters.
"For example, when Johor was hit by the big floods in 2007, a group of amateur radio operators offered assistance as the cellular network was disrupted," she told Bernama.
She said Malaysians aged 14 and above were eligible to become amateur radio operators after passing an MCMC-conducted test for a fee of RM50.
"Each operator will then be assigned a 'call sign' as a unique identity in the amateur radio frequency bands.
"They are allowed to communicate on any subject except politics, religion, commercial dealings and pornography.
"The operators must self-regulate. If other operators were to bring up the issues concerned, they must reprimand them. If the issues are serious, they must report to MCMC for further action," she said. – Bernama