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995 operator allegedly hung up on caller, SCDF looking into matter

Pam Kaur, a 995 caller, said the SCDF operator hung up on her during an emergency call. (PHOTO: PAM KAUR/SINGAPORE ROADS ACCIDENT.COM/FACEBOOK)
Pam Kaur, a 995 caller, said the SCDF operator hung up on her during an emergency call. (PHOTO: PAM KAUR/SINGAPORE ROADS ACCIDENT.COM/FACEBOOK)

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) on Monday (9 May) said it is looking into an incident where an emergency hotline operator is alleged to have hung up on a caller.

Replying to media queries, a spokesperson said, "SCDF is aware of a social media post highlighting the manner in which one of our personnel handled a phone call clarifying the location of a road traffic accident. SCDF is looking into the matter."

In a post on the Facebook page of Singapore roads accident.com on Sunday, user Pam Kaur said she came across a road traffic accident involving a motorcyclist who was thrown off his vehicle after being hit by a car at 2:40 am that day on the Central Expressway.

After giving the lamppost number to the hotline operator, the latter called back asking for the same information, said Kaur.

She added, "This was infuriating. It stinks of incompetence, lack of urgency and stupidity. I said by the time the ambulance arrives at the scene because you have a listening problem DESPITE MY CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS, the motorcyclist would have died."

Kaur said the operator then told her, "I don’t like your tone. I don’t like the way you are speaking to me" and hung up.

"Yes, okay I snapped at you. BUT aren’t you trained to deal with frantic calls which may sometimes involve people losing patience with you? And how many times do I have to repeat my location man?!", added Kaur in her post.

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