For people with speech and hearing impairments, emergency services are now just a click away thanks to a new mobile application called “SaveMe 999”.

Developed by the Malaysian Emergency Response Services (MERS), the new mobile app uses the Global Position System (GPS) feature of smartphone s to identify the location of the caller.

To use the application, users will be required to fill in their personal particulars such as name, details of disability and their next-of-kin’s contact details.

Meanwhile, to report an emergency, the user is required to click on the type of emergency being reported and may choose to upload a photo of the incident as reference. The information will then be forwarded to one of the response agencies such as the Royal Malaysian Police, Fire and Rescue Department, Health Ministry, Civil Defence Department and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency for immediate action.

The user will then receive an SMS notification when the report has been successfully submitted to the 999 service.

Communication and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek revealed that Telekom Malaysia, the government’s private sector arm who helped build the SaveMe 999, is now looking at developing a similar application for the visually impaired.

The “SaveME 999” application can be downloaded free of charge and is available on Android, iOS and Windows platforms.