PROTON donates drones worth nearly RM200,000 for Nepal’s flood response

KATHMANDU: Malaysian automotive company PROTON has donated drones worth nearly RM200,000 to the Government of Nepal to support disaster assessment and response efforts following the recent floods.

The drones were handed over to Malaysia’s National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) at the headquarters of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) in Malaysia, according to the company.

SMART, which is deployed in Nepal as part of Malaysia’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission, will transport the equipment to the country. The drones will be handed over to the Government of Nepal and will remain in Nepal.

PROTON International Corporation Sdn Bhd (PICSB) CEO Edmund Lim Meng Thong represented the company at the handover ceremony, while NADMA was represented by its Director General, Dato’ Meor Ismail bin Meor Akim. Representatives of Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Choo Hwai Jeng and Zul Izwan Hamzah, also attended the ceremony.

Lim said the contribution was intended to provide practical assistance to Nepal’s continuing humanitarian and disaster response efforts. He said the drones could offer aerial visibility of flood-affected areas, particularly locations that may be difficult or unsafe to reach immediately.

He added that SMART would provide the necessary training to the relevant Nepali agency before handing over the equipment.

According to PROTON, the drones will help disaster response teams assess affected areas and obtain a broader view of conditions on the ground. The information could help authorities plan the deployment of personnel and resources more effectively.

PROTON operates in Nepal through its authorised distributor, Jagdamba Motors, which represents the Proton e.MAS brand in the country.

Jagdamba Motors has separately contributed Rs 40 million to the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund and has extended additional in-kind assistance, according to the press statement.