Families of missing Malaysians in Nepal seek meeting with AGC, BNM

Following the floods and debris flows that struck Nepal on August 26, 55 Malaysians were initially reported missing. However, one individual has since returned to Malaysia. The families of the remaining 54 missing Malaysians are now seeking meetings with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) within the next two to three days.

Masfih, a Malaysian solidarity group, has urged BNM to consider a coordinated mechanism that could include moratoriums, deferments, or temporary restructuring of financial commitments for the affected families. This centralized approach would simplify the process for families, who would no longer need to approach each financial institution individually.

The AGC representative's attendance at the meeting is crucial, as some financial issues are tied to the legal status of the missing Malaysians. Manivannan, Masfih's spokesman, also requested AGC guidance on the legal process for obtaining a "presumed death" declaration, including the necessary evidence and documents, as well as the expected timeframe.

Furthermore, he called for the submission of 20 additional DNA samples from the remaining 23 missing Malaysians to Chinese authorities for identification purposes. Currently, samples from 23 out of the 55 missing Malaysians have been sent. Manivannan also urged the Malaysian government to seek China's assistance in granting digital access to next of kin to a catalogue of recovered personal belongings at Gyirong Port, facilitating the identification process.

The Malaysian government has assured Nepal of its cooperation in determining the status of the 54 missing Malaysians. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim mentioned that Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah had assured Malaysia of his government's support in the matter.