Thirty-three days after glacial floods struck the Nepal-Tibet border, families of 55 missing Malaysians pressed government agencies in Putrajaya on September 27, demanding a special financial moratorium, wider search operations, and formal mechanisms to manage unresolved legal and estate matters.
Wisma Putra Briefing Exposes Frustration Over Search Boundaries
Relatives of the missing individuals gathered at the Foreign Ministry’s Wisma Putra headquarters for a closed-door briefing involving about 105 next of kin and representatives from multiple government bodies, including the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) and the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART). The four-hour session marked the second official engagement since an initial briefing on August 30, five days after the August 26 disaster.
Families voiced deep frustration regarding the geographical limitations placed on rescue teams in Nepal. According to Malaysia Solidarity: Families in Hope (MASFIH) spokesperson Dr Manivannan Rethinam, Malaysia initially requested that search operations extend from Rasuwagadhi to Syabrubesi. However, Nepalese authorities restricted the SMART team—which deployed on September 5 and returned on September 14—to specific zones.
“Their (SMART) search area is focused on areas C and D. They cover from Timure to Syabrubesi.”
Dr Manivannan Rethinam, MASFIH spokesperson
Families Seek Special Financial Moratorium and Legal Relief
With 33 days elapsed since the flash flood—triggered by an ice and rock collapse in the upper Lhende Khola catchment area that killed over 1,450 people—surviving relatives face severe administrative and financial hurdles. Many of the missing citizens were primary breadwinners, leaving families unable to access bank accounts, settle housing and vehicle loans, or handle company interests tied to the missing individuals’ names.
MASFIH urged the government to implement a special moratorium covering all financial commitments associated with the 55 missing persons. Relatives argued that such a policy would bridge the gap until death certificates are issued and insurance or estate matters can be formally resolved. Family representatives plan to push for direct discussions with Bank Negara Malaysia and the Attorney General’s Chambers. Clarifying the scope of the relief sought, Dr Manivannan Rethinam noted that the requested suspension of payments applied solely to financial liabilities linked to the 55 unlocated individuals rather than extending to all relatives. “We do not need to wait for the Nepalese government. There are many things we can do in Malaysia now. What we are asking for is a special moratorium for the 55 missing individuals, covering all financial commitments under their names or related to them,” he said.
DNA Processing Capacity and International Coordination
The Sunday briefing also addressed biological identification protocols. Discussions at the gathering were attended by delegates representing the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Chemistry Department, the National Registration Department (JPN), and the Social Welfare Department (JKM). The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) secured DNA samples from next of kin for the identification of bodies recovered in Nepal.
Diplomatic Intervention and Prime Ministerial Outreach
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim previously raised the crisis during a phone call with Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah on September 22, before departing for an official visit to China. Anwar noted that the Nepalese leader assured him search efforts would continue despite severe conditions resembling a tsunami.
Anwar also formally raised the necessity of establishing an official administrative mechanism to address unresolved cases. Families echoed this urgency during the Wisma Putra session, emphasizing that communication channels must remain open.
Unresolved Questions Surround the Missing Group’s Movements
Relatives left the Wisma Putra meeting still searching for definitive answers regarding the exact timeline of events on the ground. Questions persist over whether the group successfully cleared immigration checkpoints in Tibet and which specific individuals managed to cross before disaster struck.