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FAMILIES of Malaysians still missing after Nepal’s glacial flash floods will seek answers from the government on Sunday over the fate of their loved ones, following the departure of the Malaysian rescue team from the disaster zone.
Malaysia Solidarity: Families in Hope spokesman Subramaniam Murugaya said the families had received no updates on the search operation since the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) left Nepal on Sept 14.
“The meeting, organised by Wisma Putra, will be held at 10am, with two representatives from each affected family allowed to attend,” he said when contacted.
The five agencies involved are the Attorney-General’s Chambers, National Registration Department, Social Welfare Department, National Disaster Management Agency and National Security Council.
“During this meeting, we want to ask what the SMART team did, what they found, because we did not get daily updates from the authorities on this,” he said.
The families have been tracking developments through Nepalese news portals since the floods struck on Aug 26, as they wait for information from Malaysian authorities.
Subramaniam said they also wanted clarification on how Malaysia would deal with the legal status of those who remained missing if Nepal proceeded with measures to legally recognise people who could not be located after the disaster.
“This is so that they can move forward with rights like inheritance, insurance claims and compensation.
“If the Nepal side gives that closure, then can Malaysia declare such measures too?” he said.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan had previously said Nepal could issue a death certificate three years after a person was reported missing or unaccounted for, compared with seven years in Malaysia.
The families also plan to ask whether the government can consider a moratorium on loan repayments to ease financial pressure on households whose main breadwinners remain missing.
“There are families with car and housing loans which are unsettled. Students are still studying and there are all other cases as well,” Subramaniam said.
He said the uncertainty had also left families unable to determine how and when to perform final rites.
“Even last rites, we don’t know if we need to do or how to do it because we don’t know when they passed on,” he said.
Subramaniam said some families were also facing difficulties accessing money belonging to their missing relatives, while others continued to struggle with the uncertainty surrounding their disappearance. - September 22, 2026
