OFFICIAL PORTAL
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
‘Welcome home, SMART heroes’
- Admin UKK
- Berita
THE Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) returned to a hero’s welcome on Monday evening after completing its search and rescue (SAR) mission in Myanmar.
Team members were reunited with their families in an emotional gathering at the SMART headquarters in Pulau Meranti here.
It was not, however, just their families and Malaysian officials who turned up to welcome them — a group representing the Myanmar community in Malaysia was also present to show their appreciation.
As SMART members arrived at the base, family members rushed forward with cheers and tears, embracing their loved ones who had spent over a week in the earthquake-hit country.
The 50-member team had earlier landed at the Subang air base at 5pm aboard two Royal Malaysian Air Force Airbus A400M transport aircraft, bringing home 31 tonnes of rescue equipment and vehicles.
They were greeted at the air base by Armed Forces chief General Datuk Mohd Nizam Jaafar and National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) directorgeneral Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus, as well as representatives from the Foreign Ministry, Nadma and the armed forces.
Nadma deputy director-general (operations) Datuk Dr Abdul Gapar Abu Bakar said upon arrival, all team members underwent health screenings and were found to be in good physical and mental condition.
“The team, which arrived in Myanmar on March 30, was deployed to the Sagaing region, where it was the only international SAR team assigned,” he said.
“During deployment, the team operated at 11 sites, many of which involved complex collapsed structures that local rescuers were unable to access.
“The team’s efforts led to the rescue of a 47-year-old man who had been buried for more than 72 hours at one of the sites. The team also recovered the bodies of 10 other victims, including four children.”
He praised the elite rescue team for its resilience, expertise, rapid deployment capabilities and the use of advanced equipment, adding that its success strengthened Malaysia’s reputation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.
He said the team’s sacrifice was especially meaningful as they were deployed just a day before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
“The team’s performance demonstrated Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to humanity and regional solidarity in disaster management,” he said.
On March 28, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar, with the epicentre near Mandalay.
SMART personnel shared some heartfelt moments with the Myanmar community who had gathered to welcome them.
Representatives of the community presented them with flowers and traditional scarves and took pictures with the team.
James La Seng, representing the Coalition of Burma Ethnics Malaysia, expressed the community’s gratitude.
“No words can express how thankful we are to SMART for responding quickly to the disaster.”
La Seng expressed the Myanmar community’s appreciation for SMART’s efforts and praised their willingness to forgo Hari Raya celebrations to carry out the mission.
“We know the SAR operations were extremely challenging, as infrastructure and resources are limited due to the ongoing civil war in Myanmar. It’s even more touching that they sacrificed their Hari Raya celebrations for this,” he said.
He also lauded the Malaysian government’s commitment to providing RM10 million in humanitarian aid for the ongoing relief efforts.
“This gesture of compassion, especially under Malaysia’s leadership as the 2025 Asean chair, demonstrates true regional solidarity and humanitarian leadership.”
Myanmar nationals from seven different ethnic groups were present at the event.
In addition to presenting gifts, they held up a banner at the entrance of the headquarters that read, “Welcome home, our heroes — SMART Team! Thank you for helping our people.”
“I felt so helpless when the earthquake happened,” said Jaw Tu Hkawng, a Kachin refugee.
“Thousands are still missing after the earthquake, and those who survive lack food, shelter and medical relief. We are deeply touched by the humanity and love shown by SMART.”
PETALING JAYA: The gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights is expected to cause a temporary decline in property demand and prices, particularly in areas closest to the disaster site, said an expert.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia property economics and finance associate professor Dr Muhammad Najib Razali told theSun that affected homes could see a price drop of up to 20% due to safety concerns, long-term risks and buyer hesitation.
“It follows similar cases in Malaysia where industrial disasters and infrastructure disruptions have weakened buyer confidence and slowed real estate activity.
“Transaction activity in the area is likely to slow down as potential buyers conduct more due diligence and assess the risks of purchasing homes nearby.
“As a result, properties may stay on the market for longer periods, reducing demand. While nearby areas outside the explosion zone may not experience the same level of price drop, the overall demand for homes in Putra Heights and its surroundings could shift,” he said, adding that the buyers may re-evaluate safety concerns and opt for homes in locations perceived as less affected by industrial infrastructure.
Muhmmad Najib said a short-term price correction of 15% to 20% is likely in the immediate vicinity of the pipeline explosion. However, he said long-term recovery will depend on remediation efforts, regulatory actions and the restoration of buyer confidence.
“Fire damage can lead to temporary property devaluation of 10% to 30%, with recovery influenced by public perception and market sentiment.
“In 2014, an industrial fire in Sungai Buloh damaged warehouses and homes. Although direct devaluation figures were not widely recorded, concerns over long-term risks led to a temporary decline in demand. As cleanup and recovery progressed, the impact on property values gradually faded.”
Muhammad Najib said the timeline for restoring fire-damaged homes varies depending on the extent of destruction. For minor fires affecting interiors or surface, he said finishes may require four to eight weeks of repairs.
However, he said in cases of severe structural damage, including compromised wiring and utilities, such as in the Putra Heights blaze, it could take six months to over a year for full rehabilitation.
“Recovery from severe property damage often takes months or even years, as seen worldwide. The 2010 San Bruno gas explosion in the US required repairs lasting six to 18 months, while the Sungai Buloh industrial fire took six to 12 months.
“Such incidents reflect the complexity of fire recovery, which involves inspections, approvals and insurance processes that can significantly delay reconstruction.”
Muhammad Najib also said renovation costs for homes affected by the blast will vary depending on the level of damage, adding that major repairs would include structural checks and replacement of plumbing and electrical systems.
“The estimated cost ranges from RM150,000 to RM300,000, but could increase by 20% to 30% due to inflation and rising material costs caused by global tariffs.”
He added that the impact of US tariffs on essential materials such as steel, lumber and construction equipment could further inflate
repair costs.
However, Muhammad Najib assured that property values can recover as conditions stabilise, rehabilitation efforts take place and public perception improves.
KUALA LUMPUR, 9 April- Seramai 309 orang daripada 104 keluarga terjejas banjir di Johor, setakat pada pukul 6.00 pagi tadi.
Jumlah berkenaan tidak berubah berbanding pada pukul 12.00 tengah malam tadi.
Menurut Portal Bencana Pusat Kawalan Bencana Negara (NDCC), Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA), banjir hanya melibatkan daerah Batu Pahat.
"Di Batu Pahat, hanya satu pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) dibuka," menurut kenyataan tersebut.
Setakat ini, hanya Johor yang terjejas dengan banjir.
KUALA LUMPUR: Ahmad Baharudin Hamid returned yesterday to what remains of his home in Kampung Sungai Baru in Subang Jaya, still blackened and broken from last week's devastating gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, searching through the debris for anything salvageable.
His two children, both university students, are preparing to return to campus next week. They'll need clothes, documents - simple essentials for a future that continues, despite the ashes they now stand in.
The 56-year-old oil and gas employee stood quietly among the charred remains of his home, built on inherited family land. The sight of melted walls, scorched floors and a collapsed roof didn't weaken his resolve.
"I'll fix this house bit by bit. I have no plans to move elsewhere," he said at the temporary relief centre at the Putra Heights Mosque hall.
Ahmad Baharudin, who has lived in the village for the past five years, said his decision to stay was also influenced by one of his four children who lives with autism and works nearby, making it easier for them to maintain a routine amid the chaos.
For now, he's looking for a nearby rental home to stay in while he repairs the damage. In addition to the house, the fire also damaged the family car and a motorcycle.
Recalling the tragedy on that fateful Tuesday, Ahmad said he heard what sounded like a plane engine revving just before the explosion erupted roughly 70 metres from his home.
He said after the blast, everything outside — clothes, the roof, plastic items — melted or turned to dust from the heat.
But in the midst of destruction, there was gratitude.
"Alhamdulillah, my wife, four children and I managed to escape. None of us were injured," he said.
The Petronas gas pipeline fire that broke out around 8.10 am on April 1 sent flames more than 30 metres into the sky, with temperatures soaring to 1,000 degrees Celsius. It took nearly eight hours for the blaze to be fully extinguished.
The disaster destroyed 81 homes completely, with structural damage exceeding 40 per cent, another 81 were partially destroyed, 57 were affected but not burned, while 218 houses were not affected. – BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR: "We had to be careful with every step. The ground here is very soft. One wrong step and we could have been pulled in."
These were the words which aptly described the anxious moments the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department's (JBPM) technical team faced when investigating the area around the crater formed by the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, Selangor on Tuesday (April 1).
Relating his experience to Bernama, Senior Fire Superintendent I Noor Shaifful Nizam Sulaiman, 41, said their concerns were not just about the unstable ground conditions but also the risk of residual gas remaining in the area.
"In the post-explosion phase, there will be all kinds of impact. In addition to concerns about residual gas remaining, we also did not know how deep the crater was.
"With the soft ground structure due to rain a few days earlier, the area could collapse at any time. That's why we had to be extremely careful with every step that we took," said Noor Shaifful Nizam, who was one of the five fire department technical team members involved in inspecting the crater.
He added that they were not alone out in the field as they were assisted by various agencies, including the Department of Minerals and Geoscience (JMG), which was tasked with marking safe areas with flags to ensure the inspection team could make their way safely.
In addition, advanced technology, such as drones with thermal functions, was also used to survey the conditions at the high-risk crater site.
Despite having experience in tackling several explosion cases, including that at the Empire Shopping Gallery in Subang Jaya in 2011, Noor Shaifful Nizam admitted that the feeling of fear was always there.
However, he tried to remain positive by telling himself that the Putra Heights incident would teach him many new things since the situation there could best be described as challenging and tricky.
Assistant Fire Superintendent Siti Nuraini Ab Rashid, 40, who was in the team assessing damage to the affected houses, said their challenge was not only about the risk of the buildings collapsing but also dealing with the emotions of the victims.
"At times, when we entered a house to assess the damage of property destruction, we would be scolded by uncooperative owners.
"But we were patient as we understand that they are affected emotionally and going through a difficult time," she said.
In addition to technical challenges, the inspection team also had to work almost non-stop, at times from morning till late at night, without sufficient rotation.
"In Malaysia, the number of fire department investigation officers is limited. I'm from the Negeri Sembilan JBPM and there are only 12 of us, whereas the bigger states may have 20 fire investigators.
"So, when there is a disaster, we would usually be temporarily sent out to the location but there aren't enough of us," she said as she described the Putra Heights fire incident as a sobering incident because many families lost their belongings, especially since it occurred during the Aidilfitri celebration.
JBPM director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad was previously quoted as saying that 25 fire investigators from five states had been dispatched to the explosion site, with five of them carrying out technical investigations and the rest focusing on evaluating the percentage of damage and destruction in the affected houses.
The Petronas gas pipeline fire at 8.10am last Tuesday saw flames rising more than 30 metres high with the temperature reaching 1,000 degrees Celsius. It took almost eight hours to completely extinguish the fire. – BERNAMA