Malaysia will deploy its Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart) to flood-hit Nepal and provide US$1 million (RM4.03 million) in aid, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today.
Anwar said the National Security Council (NSC) and National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), together with the Foreign Ministry, have been tasked with coordinating with the Nepalese government to deploy the team as soon as possible.
Smart will assist in search and rescue operations, as well as locate and repatriate Malaysians affected by the disaster.
The team will also support the Malaysian Embassy in Nepal in coordinating assistance and ensuring the safety and welfare of Malaysians there.
The US$1 million contribution will go towards assisting flood victims and supporting post-disaster recovery efforts.
Three Malaysians are among 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries reported unaccounted for following a mudslide at Gyirong Port along the China-Nepal border on Aug 26.
Bernama, quoting Xinhua News Agency, reported the figures were announced today following a joint search and verification exercise involving the foreign affairs, public security, culture and tourism, and emergency management authorities.
The 261 foreign nationals include 104 from Nepal, 49 from India, 33 from Latvia, 18 from the United States, 15 from Britain, six each from Canada and Australia, and four from South Africa.
Malaysia, Germany and Russia each recorded three nationals unaccounted for.
The mudslide struck Gyirong Port in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region on Aug 26.
- ADS
The death toll from devastating flash floods and landslides in Nepal and China's Tibet region has risen to 691, with more than 3,000 people still missing.
Bernama, quoting Turkiye’s Anadolu Ajansi and Nepal’s Kathmandu Post, reported the latest figures from authorities and local media.
Nepal's disaster agency reported 675 deaths and 2,498 people missing, while Chinese authorities said 16 people had died and 546 remained unaccounted for in Tibet, an autonomous region of China.
Only 20 of the 669 bodies recovered in the disaster had been identified by relatives as of Saturday evening.
In its latest update, the Nepal Tourism Board said 261 foreign nationals had been rescued, while 320 remained unaccounted for.
The Malaysian Association of Theme Parks and Family Attractions (Matfa) has renewed calls for the repeal of the “outdated” Entertainments Duty Act 1953.
Bernama reported Matfa president Richard Koh’s call follows Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s remarks yesterday for colonial-era laws to be abolished.
“We have been saying this all along, especially regarding the Entertainments Duty Act 1953, which was passed before Merdeka.
“Today, in 2026, we are still using this 73-year-old Act to burden Malaysian families at concert halls, theme parks and family attractions. How can Malaysia become a modern tourism and creative nation if this British-era law still exists?” Koh asked.
The Genting Highlands theme park He said repealing the law and reducing high entertainment taxes could help Malaysia attract major international events that might otherwise go to Singapore, generating economic activity for hotels, shopping malls and food outlets. - Mkini
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