Anwar orders National Security Council, Nadma and Foreign Ministry to step up aid for Malaysians in India, Nepal

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has ordered the National Security Council (MKN), National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and Foreign Ministry to immediately collaborate in aiding Malaysians impacted by the crisis in India and Nepal. Anwar announced that he had given instructions to the pertinent agencies to pinpoint and reach out to Malaysian diplomatic missions in both nations to hasten support.

"I have directed all pertinent departments, including the National Security Council (MKN) and the Foreign Ministry, to swiftly identify and contact our ministries and embassies in both India and Nepal to expedite assistance," he informed reporters following the inauguration of the National Innovation and Commercialisation Expo (Nice 2026) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

His comments came as Nepal's authorities persisted in search and rescue missions after an earthquake triggered devastating flash floods in a border region between Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday, resulting in nearly 157 deaths in the Himalayan nation. Over 50 Malaysian tourists remain untraceable following the incident, according to Mohd Firdaus Azman, the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu's charge d'affaires.

The floods devastated roads, buildings and infrastructure, isolating parts of the affected area. In a subsequent Facebook post, Anwar stated that the government was taking immediate measures to guarantee the welfare and security of Malaysians affected by the situation and that the Malaysian diplomatic missions in the affected nations would be contacted to facilitate efforts to locate and support Malaysians there.