KUALA LUMPUR: For nearly three decades, the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) has been at the forefront of search and rescue (SAR) operations and humanitarian aid efforts, not only within the country but also globally.

Established on Aug 1, 1995, SMART was formed in response to the tragic collapse of the Highland Towers condominium in December 1993. The disaster highlighted the urgent need for a highly trained and well-equipped rescue team to handle large-scale emergencies in Malaysia.