Malaysia’s SMART rescue team prepares for United Nations reclassification, aims to retain status
PUTRAJAYA, Aug 25 — The Malaysian Special Search and Rescue Team (SMART) is determined to retain its Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (Heavy USAR) classification under the United Nations (UN) as a special “gift” to Malaysia in conjunction with the 69th National Day celebrations.
SMART Team Commander PgKB I Abdul Manaf Che Isa said the country’s elite rescue team is scheduled to undergo the INSARAG External Reclassification (IER) assessment from Sept 20 to 24 to retain the classification, which it first obtained in 2016.
The official reassessment process will be conducted after confirmation from the INSARAG Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, while the team’s final technical preparations will begin on Sept 20.
Abdul Manaf expressed confidence in SMART’s level of preparedness after undergoing three large-scale pre-IER exercises, including one simulation last year and two this year.
“We are very confident because the mentor we appointed from Australia was very satisfied with the three large-scale exercises we conducted.
“We are ready to face the IER in September, and this will be a gift to the nation for this year’s National Day celebrations. Hopefully, we will succeed,” he told Bernama recently.
Abdul Manaf explained that Malaysia was the second country in Asia after Singapore to receive the prestigious classification from the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) in 2016.
He said the classification must be renewed every five years to ensure that the team’s capabilities and expertise continue to comply with international standards. However, the process had previously been rescheduled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said retaining the Heavy USAR status was crucial as it serves as recognition of SMART’s level of expertise, while also enabling the team to remain a key reference for countries in the Asian region in search and rescue operations and disaster management.
“Our expertise serves as a reference for countries in the Asian region in conducting operations and managing disasters in an orderly and systematic manner according to international norms and standards,” he said.
Abdul Manaf said the classification also enables SMART to be deployed as part of the international disaster assistance framework under the UN, demonstrating the country’s capabilities on par with other global rescue teams.
Among the key criteria for a Heavy USAR team is the ability to operate independently (self-sufficient) when deployed to disaster zones, including managing logistics, food supplies and communication systems, as well as establishing a base of operations without placing a burden on the affected country.
“It is not merely about saving lives and property; we are capable of operating without any assistance. That is what is very important about this classification for a country,” he said.
On its participation in the National Day celebrations on Aug 31, he said about 100 SMART members and personnel would take part in the parade at Dataran Putrajaya to showcase their readiness to the public.
The participation will also include an exhibition of the team’s strategic assets, comprising two heavy vehicles and four Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs).
The 2026 National Day celebrations will be held at Dataran Putrajaya on Aug 31, with the theme Malaysia Madani: Kesejahteraan Dinikmati.
