Turkiye earthquake: Send necessary aid alongside rescue workers, says Dr Wee

Rescuers search for victims and survivors amidst the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. -AFP

PETALING JAYA: The government is urged to send the necessary aid to Turkiye after a major 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck and killed thousands in the country and Syria.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, in conveying his condolences to the victims in Turkiye and affected areas, appealed to the government to send this aid alongside the 75 Malaysian Special Search and Rescue Team (SMART) members already deployed to southern Turkiye to assist in the search and rescue (SAR) there.

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"Deepest condolences to the victims of the earthquake in Turkiye and affected areas. Such devastating losses suffered.

"I appeal to the unity government to send the necessary aid alongside our 75 SMART team members deployed there," he said in a tweet on Tuesday (Feb 7).

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Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Duties) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali had said on Monday (Feb 6) that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had approved the decision to send the team and the Turkiye government had confirmed the need for assistance.

He said the SMART team had received recognition by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (Insarag) in 2016 which allows its members to participate in disaster missions abroad.