{
  "id": 15375873,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T07:49:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/18/nepal-working-on-expediting-death-certs-for-missing-malaysians"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Fifty-four Malaysians are still missing in Nepal following deadly flash floods and mudslides on August 26. Nepal's foreign minister, Mohamad Hasan, stated that the government is working on expediting the issuance of death certificates for the missing Malaysians. Currently, a waiting period of up to three years is required before death certificates can be issued for individuals who remain missing after a disaster. The Nepali government is pursuing legal amendments to allow for the immediate issuance of death certificates for the 54 missing Malaysians. These certificates are crucial for the victims' families to manage their affairs, such as dealing with banks and insurance companies. The floods and landslides, triggered by heavy rain, resulted in the deaths of at least 1,454 people and left 5,285 missing in Nepal's Rasuwa district, near the border with Tibet. The next of kin of the missing Malaysians have submitted a structured financial rescue plan to Bank Negara Malaysia. Meanwhile, Malaysia is awaiting a decision from the National Disaster Management Agency and the National Security Council on potential aid for tackling forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia. The fires are burning in remote areas with poor visibility and high air pollution.",
  "summary": "Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan says he was briefed on Kathmandu's move to slash the waiting period from three years to 45 days.",
  "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-15377833",
        "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."
}