Kuala Lumpur: For the Kachin (Myanmar’s northernmost state) refugees, handmade scarves and bags are not just simple items – they carry deep cultural meaning and serve as powerful symbols of gratitude. This is why the community made an effort to present traditional handmade bags and ‘nbat’, a traditional Myanmar scarf, to the 50 members and officers of the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) who returned home safely after participating in a humanitarian aid mission to the country.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Coalition of Burma Ethnics Malaysia (COBEM) chairman James La Seng said the gifts carry great meaning for the community and by presenting them to the NADMA members, it was a gesture of respect for those who took part in the search and rescue (SAR) operations following the earthquake in Myanmar. “We only gift nbat to those we respect the most, and the NADMA team has helped the people of Myanmar. No words can express how grateful we are to the SMART (Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team) for responding so quickly to the disaster,” he stated.
He further mentioned that most Myanmar refugees in Malaysia cannot return to assist their people due to certain restrictions. However, the news of the SMART team heading to Myanmar brought relief to the community. The team departed for Naypyidaw, Myanmar on March 30, two days after a devastating earthquake struck the country.
Since then, COBEM has been closely following all social media and news updates related to the mission and was awaiting their safe return. They all returned safely at about 5 pm yesterday, and their arrival at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Subang Air Base was welcomed by Chief of Defence Force Gen Datuk Mohd Nizam Jaffar and NADMA director-general Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus. The MAS-01 team was later given a warm welcome by COBEM members at the SMART headquarters in Pulau Meranti, Puchong.
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, with the death toll now surpassing 3,500. Most of the casualties were reported around Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, where more than 2,100 deaths have been confirmed.
Meanwhile, COBEM vice-chairman Joseph Cha Ru expressed appreciation for Malaysia’s willingness to prioritize the humanitarian aid mission, even during major celebrations like Aidilfitri. “We understand that hari raya is a big celebration in Malaysia, yet they chose to lend a hand to Myanmar immediately, leaving their loved ones behind. They can choose to postpone the mission, but they didn’t,” he said.
COBEM supports and advocates for Myanmar refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia through various programmes, including mobile clinics, youth camps, sports events, community outreach, and public advocacy initiatives. According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 171,000 Myanmar refugees and asylum seekers are registered in Malaysia.