PUCHONG: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called for an increase in the overseas service allowance for the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart). The Deputy Prime Minister believes that an increase is long overdue for the team, given their international recognition.
Smart is renowned worldwide and has received accolades from international bodies and even agencies under the United Nations. Their efforts in assisting during the earthquake in Turkiye earned them recognition from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ahmad Zahid stated that it is appropriate for the government to increase their allowance in order to motivate and alleviate their financial burden.
During the Turkiye earthquake, Smart members were given a daily allowance of RM100. Ahmad Zahid, the Chairman of the Central Disaster Management Committee, has instructed the Director-General of the National Disaster Management Agency to reassess the allowance. He urged for the increase to be implemented quickly, as the government has no objections to it.
Ahmad Zahid also mentioned that it is a suitable time to expand the Smart team, as they are usually the first to arrive at landslide or natural disaster sites. Currently, the team consists of 141 members from three agencies: the police, Fire and Rescue Department, and the Malaysian Armed Forces. Ahmad Zahid suggested that the team should include members from the Health Ministry and other agencies, totaling seven in total.
Earlier, Ahmad Zahid attended the 2023 National Preparedness Month and launched #MalaysiaMadaniSiagaBencana at the Smart Headquarters in Pulau Meranti.
