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KUALA LUMPUR – Fifty-five Malaysians remain uncontactable following floods and landslides in Nepal and China, with efforts to establish the status of each individual still ongoing, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In a statement, the ministry, also known as Wisma Putra, said the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart), which returned from Nepal on Monday, would brief it on its mission and findings.
During its deployment, Smart conducted searches in areas that could be safely accessed and where operations were permitted by the Nepalese authorities.
The search involved ground operations and aerial observations using drones, with the findings to be reviewed by Wisma Putra and relevant Malaysian agencies to determine appropriate follow-up action.
Wisma Putra stressed that the end of Smart’s field deployment did not mean efforts to ascertain the status of the Malaysians had ended or that their current status had changed.
“The 55 Malaysians remain recorded as uncontactable while the relevant processes to establish the status of each individual continue,” the ministry said.
According to the latest information received from Nepal, its authorities are continuing search, verification and identification efforts following the disaster.
As part of Malaysia’s support for Nepal’s disaster-response efforts, Smart conducted on-site training for Nepalese rescue personnel on drone operations and handed over nine drones to the Nepalese Government through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).
Malaysia’s follow-up efforts in Nepal will continue through the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu, which will obtain information directly from NDRRMA and other relevant Nepalese authorities.
The embassy will also maintain contact with hospitals and other relevant agencies and conduct further checks or visits where safety conditions and approval from the Nepalese authorities permit.
In China, the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing will continue engaging with the relevant Chinese authorities concerning Malaysians affected by the disaster and any information that could assist in establishing their status.
Wisma Putra said it understood the concerns of families still awaiting certainty about their loved ones and remained in direct contact with their immediate next of kin.
It said any verified development concerning an individual Malaysian would be communicated to the immediate next of kin before any public announcement was made.
The ministry also urged the public and media to respect the privacy of the families concerned and refrain from speculation regarding anyone whose status had yet to be confirmed.
“Further updates will be provided based on verified information received through official channels,” it said. –BERNAMA
