{
  "id": 15370856,
  "title": "Foreign minister: Nepal seeks legal amendments to expedite death certificates for 54 Malaysians",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/foreign-minister-nepal-seeks-legal-amendments-to-expedite-death-15370856",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T06:49:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/18/foreign-minister-nepal-seeks-legal-amendments-to-expedite-death-certificates-for-54-malaysians/239597"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "MELAKA, Oct 18 — The Nepalese government is pursuing legal changes to speed up the issuance of death certificates for 54 Malaysians who remain missing after devastating floods and landslides in August, according to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. The current law in Nepal mandates a three-year waiting period before death certificates can be issued for individuals unaccounted for after a disaster. The Nepalese Embassy reported this to the ministry during a recent visit. “We are working on the legal amendments and will propose them to Parliament,\" Hasan said. \"If that doesn't work, we will arrange special provisions to ensure the death certificates are issued promptly for the 54 Malaysians,\" he added. The floods occurred on August 26, leading to infrastructure damage and hampering rescue efforts in Nepal's Rasuwa district and the Nepal-Tibet border area. Previously, Malaysian authorities confirmed that one Malaysian had returned home safely, leaving 54 Malaysians still unaccounted for. Meanwhile, Malaysia is awaiting a decision from the National Disaster Management Agency and the National Security Council on aid for forest fires in Indonesia. The fires, burning in remote areas with thick haze, have visibility below 50 meters and an Air Pollutant Index of 1,000 in Kalimantan. For travelers to Italy and France, Hasan advised Malaysians to avoid demonstrations and areas with rioters, as there are no travel restrictions currently in place.",
  "summary": "MELAKA, Oct 18 — The Nepalese government is seeking to amend the country’s laws to expedite the issuance of...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Fifty-four missing Malaysians’ families may get relief as Nepal weighs faster death certificates",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/fifty-four-missing-malaysians-families-may-get-relief-as-nepal-weighs",
        "published": "2026-10-18T05:57:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Foreign minister: Nepal seeks legal amendments to expedite death certificates for 54 Malaysians",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/foreign-minister-nepal-seeks-legal-amendments-to-expedite-death",
        "published": "2026-10-18T06:49:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Nepal seeks legal changes to expedite death certificates for 54 missing Malaysians",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/nepal-seeks-legal-changes-to-expedite-death-certificates-for-54",
        "published": "2026-10-18T06:56:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Nepal working on expediting death certs for missing Malaysians",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/nepal-working-on-expediting-death-certs-for-missing-malaysians",
        "published": "2026-10-18T07:49:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}