{
  "id": 11856778,
  "title": "MASFIH urges diplomatic push with Nepal and China over 54 missing Malaysians",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/masfih-urges-diplomatic-push-with-nepal-and-china-over-54-missing",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-04T05:57:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Vibes",
    "slug": "the-vibes",
    "url": "https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/127969/masfih-urges-diplomatic-push-with-nepal-and-china-over-54-missing-malaysians"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Solidarity Families in Hope (MASFIH), a NGO, has appealed to Malaysia's government to engage in diplomatic efforts with Nepal and China concerning 54 Malaysian citizens who remain missing after severe floods and landslides in Nepal on August 26. Dr Manivannan Rethinam, a spokesperson for MASFIH, highlighted that this request follows Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority's (NDRRMA) announcement that Search and Rescue (SAR) operations have officially concluded. The MASFIH spokesperson clarified that the call for action stems from the operational decision made by Nepal, keeping in mind factors such as safety, accessibility, and local authority assessments. However, MASFIH insists that this does not signify the end of Malaysia's endeavors to seek concrete answers for the missing. In an effort to streamline forensic identification procedures, Dr Manivannan urged the submission of 20 additional DNA samples from affected Malaysian families to Chinese authorities for cross-matching. Currently, only three DNA samples have been submitted out of the 23 Malaysians who were traveling together, and he stressed that providing the remaining 20 samples would ensure a comprehensive dataset for comparison. Additionally, MASFIH previously requested that Wisma Putra share catalogues of personal effects recovered at Gyirong Port with next of kin. However, no updates have been made thus far. It is pertinent to note that Nepal initially listed 537 missing foreign nationals, including Malaysians, from over 30 countries following the catastrophic flooding in the Rasuwa district. Initially, 55 Malaysians were unaccounted for, but one person was later confirmed safe and repatriated on Saturday.",
  "summary": "MALAYSIA Solidarity Families in Hope (MASFIH) has urged the Malaysian government to actively maintain diplomatic channels with Nepal and China to aid families seeking closure regarding 54 citizens who remain missing following devastating floods and l...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Families of missing Malaysians in Nepal seek meeting with AGC, BNM",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/families-of-missing-malaysians-in-nepal-seek-meeting-with-agc-bnm",
        "published": "2026-10-04T05:23:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Nepal floods : Families seek access to recovered belongings, financial relief, legal guidance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/nepal-floods-families-seek-access-to-recovered-belongings-financial",
        "published": "2026-10-04T07:01:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}