{
  "id": 13348422,
  "title": "Families of missing Malaysians accept painful change to death declaration period",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/families-of-missing-malaysians-accept-painful-change-to-death",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-10T06:30:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1552321/families-missing-malaysians-accept-painful-change-death-declaration"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The families of missing Malaysians have accepted Nepal's proposal to shorten the period for declaring disaster victims dead. Sivakumar Kalimuthu, whose wife is missing, acknowledged the proposal by Nepal to reduce the declaration period from 12 years to 45 days. The Malaysian government has not issued any official notification about the proposal. Families are required to accept the decision as they have no direct communication with the Nepali government. Hani Othman, wife of a Senior Fire Officer, expressed mixed feelings about the decision but acknowledged the need to accept it as next of kin. The proposal was made by Nepal following devastating floods that killed over 1,400 people and left 6,000 untraceable. Nepal is currently conducting search, rescue, and recovery operations in affected areas.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Though painful, families of missing Malaysians are prepared to accept Nepal’s proposal to shorten the period for declaring missing disaster victims dead.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Nepal cuts wait period to declare missing flood victims dead",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/nepal-cuts-wait-period-to-declare-missing-flood-victims-dead",
        "published": "2026-10-09T23:55:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}