36 rakyat Malaysia di Tibet dilaporkan selamat

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia's Department of Foreign Affairs announced that 36 Malaysian citizens, who were in Tibet, China, have been reported safe after a flash flood and landslide incident along the Nepal-China border. Syed Mohamad Hasrin, Deputy Chief Operating Officer for International Relations, stated that their identities and status are still under verification with Chinese authorities.

The ministry is conducting a cross-check to determine if there is any overlap between these 36 individuals and the list of Malaysian citizens still unaccounted for in Nepal. They are currently reviewing the information, as this is new data received. Syed Mohamad Hasrin informed Bernama that the review will be updated if any matching names, including the exact Malaysian citizenship numbers, are found in Nepal or Tibet.

The ministry's coordination has been expanded to include the China-India border region, collaborating with the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing and Malaysia's High Commission in New Delhi due to reports of Malaysian travelers potentially passing through China and India. The 24-hour Operations Room in Putrajaya will continue to process information, assist Malaysian nationals in affected areas, and provide updates to family members.

They are awaiting confirmation from Chinese authorities regarding the safety and whereabouts of Malaysian citizens in Tibet before making any further conclusions. Concerning the possibility of bringing back affected Malaysian nationals, Syed Mohamad Hasrin mentioned that this would need coordination with the Nepalese authorities and transportation operators, ensuring the travelers' travel document status before taking any further action.

However, he emphasized that the primary focus now is on monitoring and ensuring the safety of Malaysian nationals in the affected region, considering weather conditions and limited access. Meanwhile, Malaysia's National Safety Council (MKN) and National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) are coordinating and evaluating the form of assistance that can be channeled to Nepal.

Any aid will consider the specific needs identified by the Nepalese Government and be subject to the Ministry's consideration and prioritization through official channels. Nepal has informed that they have sufficient supplies for search and rescue operations, while the required form of assistance may involve financial resources and other forms of support.

Malaysia has expressed readiness to provide assistance if the Nepalese authorities require additional support. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also assessing the preparedness of Malaysian agencies, including the Special Search and Rescue Team (SMART) and the Malaysian Ministry of Defense and Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), for potential assistance if needed.

Syed Mohamad Hasrin reiterated that in line with the advice of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim, the ministry will continue to disseminate verified information to Malaysian families affected by the disaster. "At the same time, media and the public are requested not to speculate or disseminate unverified information, and instead refer to the Ministry's official statement for the latest developments.

The ministry will continue to provide updates as they become available." On the previous day, Sultan Ibrahim urged the Malaysian High Commissioner to take necessary action for Malaysian nationals affected by the heavy flood aftermath in Rasuwa, Nepal. The recent updates include the Ministry's commitment to provide the latest verified information to Malaysian families affected by the disaster, urging media and the public not to speculate or spread unverified information, and to refer to the Ministry's official statements for the most recent updates.