SUBANG, 30 March 2025 – Deputy Prime Minister I, YAB Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi, and the Chief of Defence Force (PAT), General Datuk Hj Mohd Nizam bin Hj Jaffar, witnessed the deployment of a search and rescue mission team to Myanmar following the earthquake that struck on 28 March 2025.

The mission, activated by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), follows a 7.7-magnitude earthquake and a 6.4-magnitude aftershock, which caused severe damage and building collapses in the Mandalay and Naypyidaw regions. The Myanmar government has since declared a state of emergency in response to the disaster.

As part of the operation, a medical team from the Royal Health Corps (KKD), under the MYTEAM Relief component, comprising two medical officers and two paramedics, was deployed alongside the Special Malaysian Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) and the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM). A total of 16 Armed Forces personnel (12 integrated with the SMART team) have been mobilised. Additionally, 34 SMART personnel joined the mission, consisting of 13 Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) officers and 21 JBPM personnel, bringing the total deployment to 50 personnel. They are equipped with Base of Operations (BoO) equipment, search and rescue tools, communication and medical supplies, technical gear, one four-wheel-drive vehicle, and two trucks.

The SMART team, established on 1 August 1995, was formed following the Highland Towers condominium collapse in December 1993, which highlighted the urgent need for a highly trained disaster response team. Under the directive of the National Security Council (MKN), SMART was created with members from three key national security agencies: the Armed Forces (ATM), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), and the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM).

In response to the earthquake, the team and all mission equipment were airlifted from Subang Air Base aboard two Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Airbus A400M aircraft, departing at 09:30 and 10:00. The flights are expected to arrive at Naypyidaw International Airport, Myanmar, at 12:30 and 13:00 Malaysian time, after which the teams will begin their assigned rescue operations. Prior to this, rescue teams from Russia, Singapore, and China have already arrived at the site and commenced their operations.

This humanitarian mission is a collaborative effort coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), with NADMA as the lead agency. The mission is scheduled to run for 7 to 14 days in two phases:

• Phase One focuses on search and rescue operations, locating survivors trapped under the rubble.
• Phase Two involves humanitarian aid coordination, providing food, shelter, and clothing for affected communities.

The deployment of this humanitarian mission underscores Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to humanitarian assistance, reinforcing regional solidarity in times of crisis. The involvement of Malaysia’s search and rescue teams in this disaster is a testament to the nation’s preparedness and its dedication to universal humanitarian values.

Also present at the send-off ceremony were the Myanmar Ambassador to Malaysia, His Excellency Aung Soe Win; NADMA Director-General, Datuk Khairul Shahril bin Idrus; Chief of Staff, Armed Forces Headquarters, Lieutenant General Dato’ Azhan bin Hj Md Othman; as well as officers and personnel from ATM, NADMA, and other government agencies.

Image Credit: PAT Office