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SUBANG: The last area where Malaysians were detected has become the main focus of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart) in its search and rescue (SAR) mission in Nepal.
National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) director-general Datuk Meor Ismail Meor Akim said the team’s priority was not solely to search for Malaysians, but to rescue all victims found during the operation.
“Our focus is the area where Malaysians were last detected. That is our focus, but it does not necessarily mean we will find them.
"Our priority is, of course, our people,” he said at a press conference during the send-off ceremony for the Smart team to Nepal at the Subang Air Base here on Saturday.
Sinar previously reported that 11 Smart officers and personnel had departed for Nepal to assist in SAR operations following floods and landslides that hit the country.
The team is led by Contingent Commander Senior Fire Superintendent 1 Abdul Manaf Che Isa and departed at about 9am aboard a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) A400M aircraft.
Meor Ismail said the Smart operation would begin after receiving approval from the Nepalese government and was scheduled to last 10 days.
“The team comprises a commander and 10 personnel with various skills or multi-skilled capabilities.
“These include search and rescue, drone operations, logistics, communications and technical support,” he said.
He said the team was also carrying about 12.4 tonnes of equipment to support SAR operations on the ground.
Meor Ismail said the team’s exact deployment location would only be determined after arriving in Nepal and receiving a briefing from the local authorities.
“Upon arrival, we will be briefed and welcomed by Malaysian representatives before receiving a briefing on the area of operation.
“After that, the relevant authorities will provide an operational briefing and we will move according to the area assigned,” he said.
He said based on preliminary information received, the Smart team was likely to be deployed to a tunnel area, although the exact location had yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, Meor Ismail said the operation had been set for 10 days in accordance with the team’s operational standards, with the mission centred on humanitarian assistance.
“We have our own standards, and that is our standard. We are focused on humanitarian efforts and providing assistance,” he said.
He also expressed his appreciation to the RMAF for its cooperation in facilitating the operation, as well as the Foreign Affairs Ministry for assisting in securing approval for the Smart team to conduct the SAR mission in Nepal.
Also present was Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of Bilateral Affairs principal assistant secretary Choo Hwai Jeng.
The aircraft was operated by RMAF Mission Commander Lieutenant Colonel Phanom a/l Achuan, together with 31 RMAF crew members.
The flight to Nepal is expected to take about five hours, after which the Smart team will proceed to the operational area designated by the Nepalese authorities.
