PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian government will contribute USD1 million and deploy the second Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) to Turkey tonight to aid in the search and rescue mission.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this was being done due to the effectiveness of the first SMART team, under the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), which had flown to Turkey on Monday night.
"The second team consists of 70 personnel. There are 20 from SMART and the Civil Defence Force respectively; and 30 from the Fire and Rescue Department.
"Turkey (government) is also comfortable (working with the team) and asked if we could add more SAR personnel.
"The flight (tonight) is being managed by Turkish Airlines and this will reduce our cost," he said after chairing the cabinet meeting today.
Also present were deputy prime ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as well as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah, Sarawak and Special Functions) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
Anwar said that the Defence Ministry will also assemble a team of military doctors and paramedics to work alongside the SMART teams in Turkey.
"They are set to build a field hospital that can be completed in 48-hours. However, we are still waiting for confirmation on whether there is a need for it in Turkey.
"In Syria, it is more complicated (the mobilisation of assistance) because of flight issues and the costs are too high for us," he said.
Anwar said Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar had also agreed to channel USD 1 million to Turkey through the government.
He added the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council would contribute RM1 million for a start.
He said cash donations from kind and generous Malaysians will be channeled to Turkey as well as Syria, which will be done through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the Malaysian Consul in Syria.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake which struck the southern part of central Turkey and western Syria on Monday has claimed the lives of over 8,000 people.