Malaysia’s disaster response team should get bigger hardship allowance, says DPM

The situation near landslide area at Father's Organic Farm, Batang Kali. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

PUCHONG: The hardship allowance for the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) should be increased, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Deputy Prime Minister said an increase was long overdue given the recognition the SMART Team has received.

“SMART is well-known worldwide with accolades from international bodies and even agencies under the United Nations (UN). They had even assisted during the massive earthquake that hit Turkiye and received recognition from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” he said.

“In line with their work, the government thinks it is appropriate to increase their allowance to motivate and ease their financial burden,” added Ahmad Zahid when speaking to the media on Tuesday (Oct 17).

The hardship allowance or special allowance of RM100 per-day was introduced on Feb 24 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for SMART personnel involved in search and rescue mission for earthquake victims in Turkiye and Syria.

Ahmad Zahid, the Central Disaster Management Committee chairman, said he had asked National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) director-general Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus to look into the matter.

He urged that the increase be implemented soon as the government did not have any objection to it.

Ahmad Zahid said it was timely to expand the team, given that they are always among the first to arrive if there is a landslide or natural disaster.

“At present, he said there are 141 SMART members from three agencies: the police, Fire and Rescue Department and the Malaysian Armed Forces. As such, we at the committee think the team should have seven agencies, including those from the Health Ministry,” he said.

Earlier, Ahmad Zahid officiated the 2023 National Preparedness Month and the launch of #MalaysiaMadaniSiagaBencana at the SMART Headquarters here in Pulau Meranti.