{
  "id": 5732548,
  "title": "Tok Mat : DNA samples of 55 Malaysians' next of kin ready for Nepal matching",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/tok-mat-dna-samples-of-55-malaysians-next-of-kin-ready-for-nepal",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-05T06:56:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1526190/tok-mat-dna-samples-55-malaysians-next-kin-ready-nepal-matching"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seventy-five-year-old Malaysian families have now provided DNA samples for 52 of their next of kin reported missing following devastating floods in Nepal, according to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. These samples are ready for matching in Nepal, which will be sent there soon. Mesfin said that if needed, experts from the Chemistry Department could assist Nepal's authorities in identifying victims and conducting DNA matching to speed up the process. Foreign Minister Mohamad also mentioned that a 11-member Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart) departed for Nepal today, equipped with drones and communication devices to aid in search and rescue operations in Nepal's difficult terrain. The Nepalese authorities have been fully cooperative, providing daily reports to the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu. The government has been updating victims' family members through an operations room established for this purpose, only releasing information to registered family members as a sign of respect.",
  "summary": "SEREMBAN: DNA samples from the next of kin of 55 Malaysians previously reported as unreachable following devastating floods in Nepal have been obtained, completing the required sample collection.",
  "key_points": [
    "DNA samples of 55 Malaysians ready for Nepal matching",
    "11-member Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance team departed for Nepal",
    "Foreign Minister assisted Nepal in victim identification"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Malaysia's efforts to identify flood victims in Nepal gain momentum as DNA samples from families of missing Malaysians are prepared for matching, with expert assistance available to speed up the process.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}