The search and rescue operation following the deadly floods and landslides along the Nepal-China border has entered its ninth day, but 55 Malaysians are still unaccounted for.
Families of those still missing are now urging the Malaysian government to provide clearer, more realistic and transparent updates on the search, including an honest assessment of whether there is still a possibility of finding survivors.
Families want clearer updates
Dr Maniwannan, the brother of missing Malaysian tourist Komathi, said families need more specific information about what is actually being done on the ground.
Speaking to The New Straits Times, he said that if rescuers are still focused on finding survivors, the chances of doing so have become extremely slim after nine days.
“Even if some family members survived the floods in the early stages, it would be extremely difficult for them to survive for nine days without sufficient food, drinking water and shelter,” he said.
What will SMART actually be doing?
Maniwannan also called on the government to clarify the role of Malaysia’s Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) if it is eventually deployed to Nepal.
He said families need to know whether the mission will focus on searching for survivors, or shift towards locating missing people, recovering remains and identifying victims.
“If the main objective is now to locate and recover those who are missing, we also need to face reality,” he said. He added that as more time passes, recovering remains and identifying victims could become increasingly difficult.
Families want action, not just updates
Maniwannan said families should not have to interpret vague government statements on their own.
For them, the priority is not simply having rescue teams stationed at the disaster site, but knowing what concrete steps are still being taken to locate, recover and confirm the whereabouts of their loved ones.
“What’s important is what concrete action can still be taken to find, recover and confirm the whereabouts of our loved ones, and give the families an answer,” he said.
Families still waiting for official letters
Meanwhile, families are still waiting for letters previously promised by the Malaysian government confirming that their loved ones remain officially classified as missing.
Maniwannan said the letters would help families deal with documentation and other necessary arrangements.
The disaster struck Nepal’s Rasuwa district near the China-Tibet border on Aug 26, triggering severe flash floods and landslides that cut off roads and damaged routes through the mountainous region.
The missing Malaysians are believed to have been travelling in the area at the time.
The Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu is coordinating with Nepalese authorities on the search operation, while Putrajaya has sought Nepal’s approval to deploy SMART personnel to assist.
For now, the SMART team remains on standby.
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