Latest news with #AbdulHalimHamzah
The Sun
11 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
SMART's selection as Russia's SAR team mentor is a great honour
PUCHONG: The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) has described the selection of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) to be a mentor for Russia's RUS-03 search and rescue team as a great honour for Malaysia. NADMA director-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah said the six-day training, from June 15 to 20, is part of RUS-03's preparation for the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG)'s reassessment exercise. 'Russia's decision to appoint Malaysia as the mentor for the RUS-03 training is a great honour for the country, recognising the excellence demonstrated during past search and rescue missions, particularly in Myanmar and previously in Turkiye,' he said. He spoke to reporters after receiving a visit from Russia's Emergency Situations Minister, Colonel General Alexander Kurenkov, at the SMART headquarters today. Abdul Halim said at the same time, SMART is also undergoing the INSARAG recertification process for next year, adding that the team was first certified in 2016. 'It is no easy feat to maintain the (INSARAG) certification. I was directly involved in 2016, and now, a decade later, I have the opportunity to be part of it again. But it's even more challenging as all eyes are on Malaysia, and the expectations are higher,' he said. He said the Russian team was highly impressed by SMART's level of professionalism, determination and training approach, particularly in operational techniques and current best practices. Abdul Halim said the joint training also paved the way for collaborations, with Russia inviting Malaysia to join forces in several areas of expertise and offering opportunities for short-term training and study programmes. 'This matter will be conveyed to the Public Service Department as it aligns with the government's strategic thrust to strengthen national disaster preparedness and management,' he added.
The Star
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Nadma: Smart's selection as Russia's SAR team mentor a great honour
PUCHONG: The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) has described the selection of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart) to be a mentor for Russia's RUS-03 search and rescue team as a great honour for Malaysia. Nadma director-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah said the six-day training, from June 15 to 20, is part of RUS-03's preparation for the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG)'s reassessment exercise. "Russia's decision to appoint Malaysia as the mentor for the RUS-03 training is a great honour for the country, recognising the excellence demonstrated during past search and rescue missions, particularly in Myanmar and previously in Turkiye," he said. He spoke to reporters after receiving a visit from Russia's Emergency Situations Minister, Colonel General Alexander Kurenkov, at the Smart headquarters on Thursday (June 19). Abdul Halim said at the same time, Smart is also undergoing the INSARAG recertification process for next year, adding that the team was first certified in 2016. "It is no easy feat to maintain the (INSARAG) certification. I was directly involved in 2016, and now, a decade later, I have the opportunity to be part of it again. But it's even more challenging as all eyes are on Malaysia, and the expectations are higher," he said. He said the Russian team was highly impressed by Smart's level of professionalism, determination and training approach, particularly in operational techniques and current best practices. Abdul Halim said the joint training also paved the way for collaborations, with Russia inviting Malaysia to join forces in several areas of expertise and offering opportunities for short-term training and study programmes. "This matter will be conveyed to the Public Service Department as it aligns with the government's strategic thrust to strengthen national disaster preparedness and management," he added. – Bernama
Barnama
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Barnama
SMART's Selection As Russia's SAR Team Mentor Is A Great Honour
PUCHONG, June 19 (Bernama) -- The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) has described the selection of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) to be a mentor for Russia's RUS-03 search and rescue team as a great honour for Malaysia. NADMA director-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah said the six-day training, from June 15 to 20, is part of RUS-03's preparation for the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG)'s reassessment exercise. 'Russia's decision to appoint Malaysia as the mentor for the RUS-03 training is a great honour for the country, recognising the excellence demonstrated during past search and rescue missions, particularly in Myanmar and previously in Turkiye,' he said. He spoke to reporters after receiving a visit from Russia's Emergency Situations Minister, Colonel General Alexander Kurenkov, at the SMART headquarters today. Abdul Halim said at the same time, SMART is also undergoing the INSARAG recertification process for next year, adding that the team was first certified in 2016. 'It is no easy feat to maintain the (INSARAG) certification. I was directly involved in 2016, and now, a decade later, I have the opportunity to be part of it again. But it's even more challenging as all eyes are on Malaysia, and the expectations are higher,' he said. He said the Russian team was highly impressed by SMART's level of professionalism, determination and training approach, particularly in operational techniques and current best practices. Abdul Halim said the joint training also paved the way for collaborations, with Russia inviting Malaysia to join forces in several areas of expertise and offering opportunities for short-term training and study programmes. 'This matter will be conveyed to the Public Service Department as it aligns with the government's strategic thrust to strengthen national disaster preparedness and management,' he added.
The Sun
12-06-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Southwest Monsoon: Drought impact expected to be less intense
PUTRAJAYA: The Southwest Monsoon (MBD), which began on May 10 and is expected to last until September, is not likely to bring extreme dry weather, as the current El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) pattern remains in a neutral phase, said National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) director-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah. He said that as a result, the impact of droughts typically associated with MBD is expected to be less severe this year compared to last year. 'Although the MBD typically brings drier weather to Peninsular Malaysia, the neutral ENSO status means that severe droughts, often associated with El Niño, are less likely to occur. 'In short, the neutral status of ENSO means we can expect more 'normal' monsoon without the extreme effects of El Niño or La Niña, which is expected to continue until October,' he said today during an engagement session with the media regarding the government's preparations for MBD, here. ENSO is a climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that oscillates between warmer (El Niño), cooler (La Niña), and neutral phases, which have significant impacts on global weather, including the monsoon seasons in Malaysia. However, Abdul Halim noted that hot weather conditions can still pose health risks, lead to water supply shortages, forest and bushfires, as well as haze, adding that if prolonged, they may also affect agricultural yields. He said the key characteristics of MBD include low rainfall over Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, more dry days across most states, and the formation of squall lines (clusters of active thunderstorm clouds that form over the sea and move inland) typically in the mornings along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and western Sabah. 'Local and transboundary haze incidents may also occur if forest fires are not brought under control,' he said, adding that NADMA, together with the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Department of Environment (DOE) and the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET Malaysia), is fully prepared in terms of logistics and manpower to face the impacts of the Southwest Monsoon. On water resource management and hydrological drought (shortage of water in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, or groundwater), he said forecasts related to drought, including dam storage and river flow rates, indicate that most major dams and river water remain at normal levels with only the Malut Dam in Kedah is at alert status with a storage level of 37.6 per cent as of May 27. 'Tomorrow, we will hold a coordination meeting on cloud seeding operations in Kedah, specifically for the Bukit Malut Dam issue, as a proactive measure. We will not wait until the dam runs dry to carry out the operation,' he said. He said JBPM had been appointed as the coordinating agency to handle complaints related to open burning to avoid overlapping actions and ensure swift and accurate responses, noting that in the first five months of this year, JBPM responded to 3,791 open burning cases, with the highest number of incidents recorded in five states: Kedah (547), Johor (468), Terengganu (384), Selangor (368), and Perak (357). Abdul Halim said between Jan 1 and May 19, DOE identified 125 hotspots across Malaysia and investigated 2,391 open burning cases, issued 34 compounds, and brought 16 cases to court. Meanwhile, MET Malaysia's deputy director-general of operations, Ambun Dindang, said the highest temperatures, between 36 and 37 degrees Celsius, are expected in July and August, with the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia and inland areas likely to experience hotter weather compared to most locations. Established in 2015, NADMA is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing policies and strategies related to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The agency also serves as the country's central reference point for managing various types of disasters, including floods, haze, earthquakes, and pandemics, through close collaboration with multiple government agencies, local authorities, non-governmental organisations, and local communities.
The Star
12-06-2025
- Climate
- The Star
Southwest Monsoon: Drought impact expected to be less intense, says Nadma
PUTRAJAYA: The Southwest Monsoon (MBD), which began on May 10 and is expected to last until September, is not likely to bring extreme dry weather, as the current El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) pattern remains in a neutral phase, said National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) director-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah. He said that as a result, the impact of droughts typically associated with the monsoon was expected to be less severe this year compared to last year. "Although the monsoon typically brings drier weather to Peninsular Malaysia, the neutral ENSO status means that severe droughts, often associated with El Niño, are less likely to occur. "In short, the neutral status of ENSO means we can expect more 'normal' monsoon without the extreme effects of El Niño or La Niña, which is expected to continue until October," he said on Thursday (June 12) during an engagement session with the media regarding the government's preparations for MBD, here. ENSO is a climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that oscillates between warmer (El Niño), cooler (La Niña) and neutral phases, which have significant impacts on global weather, including the monsoon seasons in Malaysia. However, Abdul Halim noted that hot weather conditions can still pose health risks, lead to water supply shortages, forest and bushfires, as well as haze, adding that if prolonged, they may also affect agricultural yields. He said the key characteristics of the monsoon include low rainfall over Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, more dry days across most states, and the formation of squall lines (clusters of active thunderstorm clouds that form over the sea and move inland) typically in the mornings along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and western Sabah. "Local and transboundary haze incidents may also occur if forest fires are not brought under control," he said, adding that Nadma, together with the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Irrigation and Drainage Department, Environment Department and the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), is fully prepared in terms of logistics and manpower to face the impacts of the Southwest Monsoon. On water resource management and hydrological drought (shortage of water in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, or groundwater), he said forecasts related to drought, including dam storage and river flow rates, indicate that most major dams and river water remain at normal levels with only the Malut Dam in Kedah was at alert status with a storage level of 37.6% as of May 27. "Tomorrow, we will hold a coordination meeting on cloud seeding operations in Kedah, specifically for the Bukit Malut Dam issue, as a proactive measure. We will not wait until the dam runs dry to carry out the operation," he said. He said JBPM had been appointed as the coordinating agency to handle complaints related to open burning to avoid overlapping actions and ensure swift and accurate responses, noting that in the first five months of this year, JBPM responded to 3,791 open burning cases, with the highest number of incidents recorded in five states: Kedah (547), Johor (468), Terengganu (384), Selangor (368), and Perak (357). Abdul Halim said between Jan 1 and May 19, the Environment Department identified 125 hotspots across Malaysia and investigated 2,391 open burning cases, issued 34 compounds, and brought 16 cases to court. Meanwhile, MetMalaysia's deputy director-general of operations, Ambun Dindang, said the highest temperatures, between 36 and 37 degrees Celsius, are expected in July and August, with the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia and inland areas likely to experience hotter weather compared to most locations. Established in 2015, Nadma is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing policies and strategies related to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The agency also serves as the country's central reference point for managing various types of disasters, including floods, haze, earthquakes, and pandemics, through close collaboration with multiple government agencies, local authorities, non-governmental organisations, and local communities. – Bernama
