PUTRAJAYA, October 22 2026, The Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) is stepping up preparations for the 2026/2027 Northeast Monsoon, with a focus on handling secondary disasters such as landslides and building collapses during floods.
SMART Commander Senior Fire Superintendent I Abdul Manaf Che Isa said the team was enhancing its capabilities to rescue victims trapped in collapsed structures, which require specialised skills in stabilising buildings and extracting people from debris.
He said floods could trigger other emergencies that pose additional challenges to rescue teams, making preparation for such complex incidents crucial.
The Northeast Monsoon is expected to begin in late October and continue until mid-March 2027.
As part of its preparations, 136 SMART personnel completed five days of boat-handling and water-rescue training at Pantai Bagan Lalang. The exercises were conducted during both daytime and nighttime to prepare personnel for challenging conditions, including strong currents, bad weather and poor visibility.
The training also covered the use of rescue equipment and responses to emergencies such as engine failures and equipment malfunctions. Personnel were taught basic technical and engineering skills to address problems while awaiting recovery assistance, reducing risks during rescue operations.
Zone coordinating officers from the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) also participated in the training to strengthen coordination, particularly when accessing flood-isolated areas and assessing temporary evacuation centres.
During the monsoon season, SMART will support frontline rescue agencies and operate from designated forward bases based on operational needs and risk assessments in affected states.
Abdul Manaf said the team would also continue scuba-diving exercises to maintain its underwater rescue capabilities and ensure its equipment remained ready for deployment.
Established following Cabinet approval in 1994 and becoming operational in 1995, SMART operates under NADMA. Its personnel are drawn from the Malaysian Armed Forces, Royal Malaysia Police and Fire and Rescue Department.
-BERNAMA
