KOTA KINABALU: Fire and rescue department's elite Mount Kinabalu search and rescue (Mosar) team has expanded their training in mountain rescue operations.
The team, led by Ranau fire station chief Ridwan Mohd Taib, Jimmy Alexius and Reason Justin were invited by the International Search and Rescue Alliance (ISARA) to participate in the 4th Above Cloud Mountain Rope Rescue Technology Exchange Summit.
The event held from May 21 to 25, 2024 in Yunnan, China, spanned the cities of Shangri-La in Tibet autonomous city and Zhaotong City.
Participating countries included Malaysia, Thailand, France, Laos and organiser China.
They joined other international search and rescue teams and experts to exchange the latest technology and methods in mountain rescue operations.
The summit marks a historic moment as China, for the first time, allowed foreign personnel to enter its National Fire and Rescue Training Centre.
ISARA chief Peter Yeh Tai Hsin, who also serves as the director of China Disaster Rescue, highlighted the significance of this event in enhancing global search and rescue cooperation.
"This summit is very important in the history of China search and rescue," Yeh stated.
"It signifies a new era of international collaboration and knowledge sharing in disaster management," he added.
ISARA Asia secretary-general Simon Chin Yau Ming emphasised the importance of the event for Malaysia's Fire and Department, particularly the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department.
"Mountain rescue is a technical operation that requires advanced systems and skills to ensure the safety of both the rescue teams and the individuals being rescued.
"This summit is a crucial opportunity for our team to learn and grow," said Chin who is a Sabahan.
The exposure of the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department, especially the Mosar team has greatly improved their knowledge of rope rescue and other technical rescue matters.
Chin added that with the help of the Chinese government, the Sabah rescue team would benefit from future cooperation in training with the Yunnan Fire Rescue Corps at the world's biggest and most advanced search and rescue training centre.
"With such international exposure, we can better ensure the safety of climbers from various countries who come to Sabah for Mount Kinabalu climbing activities and this will significantly boost tourists' confidence," added Chin.