KUALA LUMPUR — The next of kin of Malaysians who remain unaccounted for following flash floods and landslides in Nepal have been asked to prepare for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) tests to assist authorities in identifying victims.
Among those still waiting for news is Sivakumar Kalimuthu, 57, whose wife, Kalai Mathe Karuppaiah, 57, remains missing, Bernama reported.
Sivakumar said he and his family were informed about the need for DNA testing during a briefing with the Foreign Ministry at Wisma Putra today.
"The police will contact us for the purpose of this DNA test and I need to gather my three children for the test," he told reporters.
He said the tests were among the measures being prepared following the discovery of several unidentified bodies in the disaster-hit area. The bodies had to be buried immediately due to the lack of suitable storage facilities at the location.
Sivakumar said his three children, who are currently in Singapore, Langkawi and Selangor, were still grieving over their mother's disappearance but continued to hope that she would be found safe.
Recalling his last conversation with his wife, a housewife, Sivakumar said she had called him at about 11am last Tuesday.
"My wife informed me that she and a group of tourists from Malaysia totalling 17 people wanted to move into Kailash to pray, but after that there was no further communication," he said.
He said he continued to pray for his wife's safety and hoped he would be able to bring her home to Malaysia.
Earlier, the Foreign Ministry told next of kin during a closed-door briefing that relatives of Malaysians who have yet to be traced were encouraged to undergo DNA testing at their respective police contingent headquarters (IPK) beginning tomorrow, after receiving official notification.
The DNA samples will be used as cross-references to help identify victims of the disaster in Chitwan, Nepal. - August 30, 2026
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