KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has congratulated the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) for placing second overall in the International Rescue Challenge (IRC) at the 2024 Asia Pacific Earthquake Exercise in Pakistan.
He described the team’s success in finishing second out of nine competing countries as an extremely proud achievement.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the National Disaster Committee chairman, said the international-level achievement proved that SMART Malaysia possessed top-class expertise and preparedness on par with the world's leading rescue teams.
"Congratulations and well done to SMART for bringing glory to the country in the IRC.
"May this success continue to be a motivation to strengthen our rescue team’s capabilities and cooperation to ensure the safety of the people and the country is always assured. Insya-Allah,” he posted on Facebook.
In the IRC, SMART also finished second in the Height Rope Rescue event. - Bernama
