{
  "id": 15377833,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T07:49:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/18/nepal-working-on-expediting-death-certs-for-missing-malaysians"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On August 26, heavy rain triggered flash floods and mudslides in Nepal's Rasuwa district, killing at least 1,454 people and leaving 5,285 missing. Among the missing are 54 Malaysians, for whom the Nepali government is working to expedite the issuance of death certificates. Currently, Nepali law requires a waiting period of up to three years before such certificates can be issued for people who remain missing after a disaster. Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan told Bernama that the Nepali government is pursuing legal amendments and will present them to parliament if the changes are not approved. The death certificates are crucial for the victims' families to manage their affairs, including dealing with banks and insurance companies. The next of kin of the missing Malaysians have presented a structured financial rescue plan to Bank Negara Malaysia. Meanwhile, Malaysia is awaiting a decision on potential aid for forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia. The haze has reduced visibility to less than 50 meters and the air pollutant index in Kalimantan has reached 1,000, making efforts to extinguish the fires particularly challenging.",
  "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",
        "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."
}