SMART team awaits Nepalese government feedback, fully prepared for flood search and rescue mission

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 31 — The Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) is eagerly awaiting feedback from the Nepalese government to determine if it is ready to receive a search and rescue (SAR) team from Malaysia to aid in flood operations. SMART commander Senior Fire and Rescue Officer 1 (PgKB 1) Abdul Manaf Che Isa revealed that the team remains fully prepared to undertake the mission, despite the pending response.

During a press conference at the National Day 2026 celebrations at Dataran Putrajaya, he highlighted the ongoing coordination with the Foreign Ministry, National Security Council, and National Disaster Management Agency for the deployment of the team to Nepal. The Prime Minister's announcement of the SMART team's deployment to Nepal came shortly after, assuring that the team was fully prepared for the SAR mission.

Earlier, Abdul Manaf had inspected the team's final preparations, consisting of 112 personnel taking part in a parade during the National Day 2026 celebrations. The Prime Minister had previously announced the Madani Government's decision to send the SMART team to Nepal to provide SAR assistance, locate and bring home affected Malaysians, and support the Malaysian Embassy in Nepal with aid coordination and safety measures.

Malaysia has pledged a contribution of US$1 million to Nepal for disaster relief and post-disaster recovery efforts. By Aug 29, Wisma Putra reported 36 Malaysians missing in China and 55 in Nepal following floods and landslides in Nepal's Rasuwa District. The death toll from the disasters had climbed to 804, with nearly 3,300 people still unaccounted for, as reported by the Anadolu Agency.