PUTRAJAYA: The Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) is still awaiting feedback from the Nepalese government as to whether it is ready to receive a search and rescue (SAR) team from Malaysia to assist in operations following the massive floods that hit the country.
SMART commander Senior Fire and Rescue Officer 1 Abdul Manaf Che Isa said the team was fully prepared to carry out the mission.
"As of this morning, we are still waiting for feedback from the Nepalese government regarding its readiness to receive the (SAR) team from Malaysia," he told Bernama when met during the National Day 2026 celebrations at Dataran Putrajaya here Monday (Aug 31).
He said coordination with the Foreign Ministry, National Security Council (MKN) and National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) would be carried out for the deployment of the team to Nepal.
"Following the statement by the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) regarding the deployment of the SMART team to Nepal, the team is basically fully prepared," he said.
Earlier, Abdul Manaf inspected the final preparations of the SMART contingent led by Captain Plaveanus Bernard, comprising 112 personnel participating in the parade in conjunction with the National Day 2026 celebrations.
On Sunday (Aug 30), the Prime Minister, in a statement, said that the Madani government had decided to send the SMART team to Nepal to assist in SAR operations following the devastating floods in the country.
Anwar said the team had also been tasked with locating and bringing home Malaysians affected by the disaster, as well as assisting the Malaysian embassy in Nepal in coordinating aid and ensuring their safety and welfare.
The Prime Minister said Malaysia would also contribute US$1mil to Nepal to assist those affected and support post-disaster recovery efforts.
On Saturday (Aug 29), Wisma Putra said that the number of Malaysians reported uncontactable remained at 36 in China and 55 following the floods and landslides that struck Nepal's Rasuwa District on Aug 26.
The Anadolu Agency reported Monday that the death toll from the severe flash floods and landslides in Nepal and China's Tibet region had risen to 804, while nearly 3,300 people remained missing. - Bernama
