THE Government is seeking to expedite official documentation for nationals still missing after a tsunami struck Nepal’s Rasuwa district on Aug 26, with Kathmandu agreeing to a request to shorten the waiting period for missing-person or death certificates from 12 years to 45 days.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan told the Dewan Rakyat that the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu was continuing efforts to trace the missing nationals despite Nepal having ended its search-and-rescue operation.
He said the embassy remained in contact with local authorities and checkpoints along trekking routes to establish the missing Malaysians’ last known locations by reviewing climbers’ registration records.
“Most of the records indicate that the Malaysians who remain unaccounted for were on routes hit by the tsunami on that date,” he said.
Mohamad was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah (PN-Langkawi), who sought clarification on Malaysia-Nepal diplomatic engagement following the end of search operations and assistance for families still awaiting news of their relatives.
He said the government could not guarantee the fate of those missing, but relevant ministries and agencies were working together to assist their next of kin.
Families need official documents to settle banking, insurance and other matters, he said, adding that the absence of missing-person or death certificates had made dealings with authorities, insurers and other parties difficult.
Mohamad said the Foreign Ministry and other agencies, including the National Registration Department, had held discussions with affected families to address their concerns and identify the assistance required.
Malaysia subsequently asked Nepal to reduce the waiting period for issuing the documents to 45 days through an executive order, and the Nepalese prime minister had agreed to the request, he said.
The government would continue monitoring developments and assisting the families while the embassy pursued information on the missing Malaysians. - October 22, 2026