19 JUN 2025 - BP - PERKUKUH REPUTASI DI PERINGKAT ANTARABANGSA: SMART DIPILIH SEBAGAI MENTOR RUSIA

19 JUN 2025 - DELEGASI EMERCOM RUSIA ADAKAN LAWATAN KERJA KE MARKAS SMART

PUTRAJAYA, 19 Jun – Pasukan Mencari dan Menyelamat Khas Malaysia (SMART) telah dipilih sebagai mentor rasmi kepada Rusia dalam persiapan menghadapi penilaian semua Kumpulan Penasihat Misi Mencari dan Menyelamat Antarabangsa (INSARAG).

Perkara itu dimaklumkan Ketua Pengarah Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA), Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah, susulan lawatan kerja Menteri Pertahanan Awam, Kecemasan dan Pengurusan Bencana Alam (EMERCOM) Rusia, Kolonel Jeneral Alexander Kurenkov ke Malaysia, hari ini.

Menurut Abdul Halim, keputusan Rusia memilih Malaysia sebagai mentor merupakan satu pengiktirafan besar terhadap keupayaan dan kecemerlangan pasukan SMART dalam operasi mencari dan menyelamat di peringkat antarabangsa.

“Ini satu penghormatan besar kepada negara. Malaysia bukan sahaja antara negara pertama di rantau ini yang menerima pensijilan INSARAG pada 2016, malah kita juga sedang bersiap sedia untuk proses pengiktirafan semula pada 2026,” katanya.

Lawatan rasmi Kolonel Jeneral Kurenkov ke Markas SMART dilihat sebagai langkah penting ke arah memperkukuh kepercayaan operasi dan meneroka potensi kerjasama taktikal yang lebih erat antara kedua-dua negara dalam bidang mencari dan menyelamat.

Sebagai sebahagian daripada kerjasama strategik tersebut, latihan bersama antara pasukan SMART (MAS-01) dan RUSH-03 dari Rusia turut dijalankan, bagi memperkukuh koordinasi taktikal dan kefahaman dua hala dalam pengurusan kecemasan berskala besar.

Kerjasama itu juga menandakan peningkatan hubungan profesional antara Malaysia dan Rusia dalam bidang pengurusan bencana, serta membuktikan keupayaan Malaysia sebagai pemain utama dalam bantuan kemanusiaan antarabangsa.

PUCHONG: The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) has described the selection of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) to be a mentor for Russia’s RUS-03 search and rescue team as a great honour for Malaysia.

NADMA director-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah said the six-day training, from June 15 to 20, is part of RUS-03’s preparation for the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG)’s reassessment exercise.

“Russia’s decision to appoint Malaysia as the mentor for the RUS-03 training is a great honour for the country, recognising the excellence demonstrated during past search and rescue missions, particularly in Myanmar and previously in Turkiye,” he said.

He spoke to reporters after receiving a visit from Russia’s Emergency Situations Minister, Colonel General Alexander Kurenkov, at the SMART headquarters today.

“It is no easy feat to maintain the (INSARAG) certification. I was directly involved in 2016, and now, a decade later, I have the opportunity to be part of it again. But it’s even more challenging as all eyes are on Malaysia, and the expectations are higher,” he said.

He said the Russian team was highly impressed by SMART’s level of professionalism, determination and training approach, particularly in operational techniques and current best practices.

Abdul Halim said the joint training also paved the way for collaborations, with Russia inviting Malaysia to join forces in several areas of expertise and offering opportunities for short-term training and study programmes.

“This matter will be conveyed to the Public Service Department as it aligns with the government’s strategic thrust to strengthen national disaster preparedness and management,” he added.