KUALA LUMPUR: Banks have given interim assurances that they will not pressure the families of 54 Malaysians who remain missing following flash floods in Nepal, Malaysia Solidarity Families in Hope (Masfih) said.
Its coordinator and spokesperson, Dr R. Manivannan, said the assurance followed a two-and-a-half-hour meeting at Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) involving financial institutions, insurance companies and the next of kin of the missing Malaysians.
"Banks have assured the families that they will not pursue loan repayments or other payments until an agreement is reached," he said.
Manivannan said Masfih welcomed the commitment but was still awaiting a written framework from BNM outlining measures to protect the families from further financial hardship.
"We have stopped the bleeding but not treated the injuries," he said, stressing that the families needed a clear, coordinated solution to address their loved ones' outstanding financial commitments.
A catastrophic flood struck the Himalayas on Aug 26 after a mountain and glacier collapsed near Nepal's border with China.
More than 1,400 people were killed and over 5,000 remain missing after tsunami-like waves swept through mountainous areas in the north, destroying homes, roads, bridges and settlements.
Manivannan said Masfih had submitted a 35-page proposal to BNM outlining financial relief measures, including a mechanism to address outstanding loans, credit commitments and liabilities while the missing individuals' status remained unresolved.
The meeting also sought to establish a coordinated approach involving BNM, financial institutions and relevant government agencies so families would not have to deal with banks and insurers individually.
Manivannan said the interim assurance was a positive first step but should not be treated as a substitute for a formal policy covering the families' financial concerns.
"We need a written and comprehensive framework so that the families know exactly what protection is available to them and how they can access it," he said.
He said Masfih wanted an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister to facilitate a coordinated government response and secure clear assurances on the way forward.
"The families need to know what can be done, how it can be done and what the next steps are," he said.
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