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King, queen propose establishment of SAR team for high-risk, extreme areas

KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah have proposed the establishment of a special search and rescue (SAR) team for rescue efforts in high-risk and extreme areas.

In a statement posted on Istana Negara's Facebook page, their Majesties believed the special squad could be deployed immediately whenever necessary to carry out SAR operations at extreme locations, such as Mount Everest.

"Their Majesties are of the view that the country also needs to have medical experts related to mountain climbing activities and that each climbing mission has its own medical team," said the statement.

"The medical team will have the important task of checking and ensuring the health of the climbers every day as well as providing emergency treatment to them."

Their Majesties offered their condolences to the family members of Malaysian Everest 2023 climber Kedah Malaysian Civil Defence Force director Lieutenant Colonel Awang Askandar Ampuan Yaacub, 56, who died during the expedition recently.

Their Majesties hoped his family would remain patient when facing the sad and painful situation.

They prayed that Awang Askandar's soul be showered with Allah's mercy and be placed among the righteous.

The king and queen hoped that missing hearing-impaired climber Muhammad Hawari Hashim would be found safe and rescued.

"Their Majesties advise the country's mountain climbers to always adhere to safety rules and take appropriate measures every time they are involved in a mountain climbing mission.

"Their Majesties also called on all relevant parties and departments to prepare safety guidelines for (mountain) climbing activities," the statement added.

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