SMART Retains Heavy USAR Status, Medical Team Stands Out - Commander

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- The Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) has retained its Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (Heavy USAR) recognition from the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG).

Its medical team's capabilities stood out as one of the highest-scoring elements in the international re-evaluation.

The achievement reflects both the effectiveness of continuous training and the rising competency of its personnel, said SMART Commander Senior Fire Supt 1 (PgKB 1) Abdul Manaf Che Isa.

He said the accomplishment was also driven by the use of state-of-the-art equipment and a series of training exercises conducted prior to the team's assessment.

"We scored very highly in several areas, particularly in medical, because the team had undergone several rounds of prior training, enabling them to perform at their best. It is a source of great pride," he told the media after the closing ceremony held to celebrate SMART's success in retaining the recognition here today.

He said the re-recognition was of great significance not only to SMART but also to the nation, following the team's wait of several years to undergo the assessment.

He said 16 international assessors involved in the process carried out a rigorous evaluation based on a checklist set out in the relevant guidelines.

"The classifiers brought in from the United Nations did not compromise at all on the checklist in the guidelines. So I am very grateful that this round of assessment was highly encouraging. We achieved a very high score," he said.

SMART underwent a 36-hour field assessment covering 173 criteria, including command and control, medical response, technical search, logistics, and international operational capability. The assessment began on Sept 22 and ended yesterday.

However, Abdul Manaf said the achievement was no reason for SMART to be complacent, as several areas had been flagged for future improvement.

These included the handling of search dogs, which poses challenges distinct from managing human resources, he said.

Weather conditions during the assessment may also have affected the search dogs' ability to perform at the required level of competency, he added.

Heavy USAR recognition allows SMART to align its capabilities with international standards. The re-evaluation not only tests technical skills but also demands physical and mental endurance, discipline and strong teamwork.

Meanwhile, classifier from Australia Jeremy Stubbs said one of the Malaysian team's key strengths was its highly regimented approach and mutual support among members.

"What I have seen is how regimented they are. They work so professionally together and support each other," he said.

He said SMART also showed a strong ability to work systematically through operational processes, with its coordination standing out during the assessment.

He added that SMART had been given suggestions on areas for further strengthening, including coordination, risk management, search operations, logistics and medical capabilities.

-- BERNAMA