Nepal clears SMART deployment as families of missing Malaysians await news

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 — Families of Malaysian nationals missing after Nepal's recent flash floods are eager for news of their loved ones following Nepal's approval of the Special Malaysian Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) deployment, starting today. Shabuddin Mun, among the 10 Malaysians aboard Team Loe heading to Everest Base Camp (EBC), expressed relief about the latest development, saying he felt "a bit happy" after waiting for over a week without any updates.

He hopes his father is safe and that the SMART team will begin operating in Nepal soon, giving them an answer about his father's status. Shabuddin Mun's family has been facing emotional pressure, with his mother playing the role of emotional pillar and supporting the others during this difficult time. The 11-member SMART team is set to be deployed tomorrow and will aid local Nepali authorities in search efforts, particularly in areas requiring technical expertise and specialized operational capabilities.

Nepal had previously restricted rescue team operations to certain countries such as China, India, and South Korea before approving SMART's deployment.