For those going through extremely rough patches in life, the Befrienders can be a lifesaver. That said, calls to its helpline are charged just as calls to any other number is. That’s set to change next week, according to an announcement by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
The MCMC is working with eight telcos to waive call charges made to the Befrienders helpline. The telcos are Celcom, Digi, Maxis, Telekom Malaysia, TIME, U Mobile, Webe Digital and Yes 4G. Calls made to the Befrienders through these telcos will be free of charge starting 1 August 2019.
For those who don’t know who the Befrienders are, it’s a non-profit organisation that has been around since 1970. The Befrienders provide 24-hour emotional support to all who are in a bad state in life, and in need of a listening ear. Its services are free, will cost even less once the call charge is waived.
If you’re in a situation where you think you may need a listening ear, then you can call the Befrienders KL at 03-7956 8145. While it’s the only one its helpline open 24 hours everyday, there are Befrienders in other states as well, including Penang, Perak, Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan. If you prefer, there’s also an email option, with the address being sam@befrienders.org.my.
(Source: MCMC, Befrienders Penang. Image: Befrienders Kuching)
