Dapat offers Government free setup for SMS disaster alert

KUALA LUMPUR: Local mobile interactive solution Dapat is offering to set up for free the infostructure to link all the relevant authorities and public broadcast systems to enable Malaysians to receive disaster notification via SMS (short message system).

According to Dapat spokesman Azli Paat, since Dapat already has an SMS disaster alert notification system in place and in use, the Government can use it for the implementation of the national SMS disaster alert. Currently the system is being used for public earthquake alerts.

“Through our Dapat Gempa Alert, Malaysians can get the latest updates on earthquakes measuring above 5 on the Richter scale and occurring within Asia. We had this infostructure set up in January in the wake of the tsunami disaster. Those who had requested for earthquake alerts have been getting them almost as immediately as the quakes happened while those who prefer to get their information on demand will get their SMS queries replied immediately. The Dapat Careline mans the alert system 24 hours a day,”

According to Azli, the Dapat Gempa Alert is currently linked to the mass media like RTM’s Radio 1 and RMKL stations.

He said that since the infostructure is already there, all that is needed now is to establish direct links between the relevant authorities like the police, the national crisis centre and the national security division to the Dapat.net system.

Azli who is also the executive vice-president of Interactive Vista Sdn Bhd, said the system can also be made interactive to receive disaster notification from the public who witness firsthand early tell-tale signs of impending disaster.

The Dapat disaster alert notification can be accessed by typing in the keyword “GEMPA” and sending it by SMS to 32728.