Latest flash floods in Nepal leave five missing, sweep away 200 homes

KUALA LUMPUR: Financial institutions have pledged not to hassle families of 54 Malaysians who went missing in Nepal floods, according to Malaysia Solidarity Families in Hope. Dr R. Manivannan, the organization's coordinator, revealed the assurance came after a prolonged meeting at Bank Negara Malaysia with various financial entities and the families' next of kin.

Banks have pledged to avoid loan repayments or other financial obligations until a settlement is reached, Dr Manivannan said. Masfih, another key figure, welcomed the commitment but awaited a written framework from Bank Negara outlining measures to shield families from financial hardship. He emphasized the need for a clear, coordinated solution to address the families' outstanding financial commitments, stating, "We have stopped the bleeding but not treated the injuries."

Bank Negara confirmed the meeting involved 44 next of kin and representatives from financial institutions, aiming to understand the challenges families face in managing the victims' financial affairs and to work towards reasonable solutions. The central bank also reiterated its readiness to provide appropriate relief and support to the affected families, in line with applicable laws and regulations.

The meeting further agreed that financial service providers would assign dedicated contact persons to assist the families with administrative processes. Dr Manivannan disclosed that Masfih submitted a 35-page proposal to Bank Negara, proposing a mechanism to address outstanding loans, credit commitments, and liabilities. Bank Negara appointed four officers to liaise with the families, serving as points of contact to streamline communication and prevent families from repeatedly explaining their situations to different banks and agencies.

Masfih requested an additional Tamil-speaking officer to improve communication with the affected families, as this would help protect them from scam calls and safeguard sensitive information. The aforementioned disaster occurred when a mountain and glacier collapse triggered catastrophic flooding in the Himalayas on August 26, resulting in over 1,400 deaths and leaving more than 5,000 people missing.