Kuala lumpur: Malaysia and Brunei will continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation in disaster management, particularly through expertise sharing, capacity building, and joint training, announced Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid, who also chairs the Central Disaster Management Committee (JPBP), stated that the collaboration between the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) and Brunei's National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) has been pivotal in coordinating initiatives since 2022.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid emphasized the importance of implementing integrated cross-border disaster management exercises regularly, noting the shared land border between the two countries. Efforts to develop standard operating procedures for cross-border disaster management are ongoing to ensure a coordinated and effective response in border areas. This announcement followed a courtesy call from Brunei's Home Affairs Minister, Datuk Seri Setia Awang Ahmaddin Abdul Rahman, at the Perdana Putra Building, part of a working visit from April 8 to 10.
Ahmad Zahid further elaborated on the establishment of the National Disaster Management Council, aimed at strengthening governance and coordination of disaster management comprehensively. He highlighted Malaysia's introduction of the National Preparedness Month to instill a culture of preparedness among citizens at all levels. Additionally, Malaysia, through the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), is committed to supporting Brunei in obtaining international recognition of the INSARAG External Classification (IEC).
The SMART team will mentor Brunei's rescue teams, providing expertise and technical guidance, along with Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) capability assessments. Ahmad Zahid also welcomed a proposal to revive the Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX), which involves various rescue operation themes to enhance the capabilities of both parties' response agencies. The momentum of this cooperation is expected to continue at the Fifth Bilateral Meeting between NADMA and NDMC, scheduled for July 2026 in Langkawi.
The Brunei delegation's visit also allowed them to inspect facilities at the Disaster Simulation Centre at SMART Headquarters, exploring opportunities for future joint training sessions at the facility.