Malaysia seeks Nepal’s approval to deploy SMART rescue team

Malaysia’s Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team, known as SMART, is ready to join search-and-rescue operations after floods and landslides near the Nepal-China border.

Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said he discussed the operation by telephone with Nepalese Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal. Malaysia has asked Nepal for permission to deploy the team to support efforts to locate Malaysian nationals who remain unreachable after the disaster.

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Malaysia has also requested permission from the Government of Nepal to deploy the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team to help and support the search-and-rescue operation currently being carried out on the ground.

SMART is waiting for Nepal’s response before moving. Abdul Manaf Che Isa, an assistant fire superintendent, said the team had prepared fully and would coordinate its deployment with Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry, National Security Council and National Disaster Management Agency once Nepal confirmed that it needed and would receive the assistance.

The disaster had killed 919 people and left 4,793 missing in Nepal and Tibet by the previous day, according to the figures cited. Nepal reported at least 903 deaths and 4,247 missing people. Chinese state media confirmed 16 deaths and 546 missing in Tibet. Among those missing in Nepal were 55 Malaysian citizens, 592 foreign nationals and 933 hydroelectric project workers along rivers affected by the flooding.

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In principle, the team is fully prepared, and we will coordinate with the Foreign Ministry, National Security Council and National Disaster Management Agency for the team’s movement.