FAMILIES of 55 Malaysians still missing after the Nepal disaster are seeking a special temporary mechanism to ease mounting financial commitments as they wait for authorities to confirm the status of their loved ones.
Malaysia Solidarity: Families in Hope (MASFIH) spokesman Dr Manivannan Rethinam said some families were struggling with housing and vehicle loans, insurance and other financial obligations that remained under the names of those who have been missing for 36 days.
He urged the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Bank Negara Malaysia and relevant agencies to work with the affected families on measures including payment moratoriums, protection from penalties or collection action, and clear arrangements for accounts, loans, insurance and assets.
“In some families, those who are missing are the main breadwinners. We once again appeal for the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Bank Negara Malaysia and relevant agencies to sit down with the families to establish a special and temporary mechanism for the 55 Malaysians who remain missing,” BH reported him saying today.
“We are not asking for the debts to be written off. Nor are we asking for special treatment without a legal basis. What we are asking for is a special, humanitarian and legally grounded solution so that the families do not become the ‘second victims’ of this tragedy,” he said.
Manivannan also welcomed Nepal’s decision to expedite the process of confirming the status of the 55 Malaysians still unaccounted for, describing it as a positive development after more than a month of uncertainty.
He also urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to meet representatives of the families to hear directly about the issues they face, including the search operation, status confirmation, legal requirements and financial pressures.
“We welcome this development. We understand that this involves Nepalese law, court processes and the jurisdictions of both countries. However, every day that passes has a significant impact on families who are still waiting for certainty,” he said.
He said such a meeting could help coordinate action between Malaysian ministries and agencies and ensure that assistance provided to families kept pace with developments in Nepal.
For Hani Othman, wife of Senior Fire Officer II Mohd Fakhrul Munir Mohd Isa, better known as Loe, the decision to expedite the process brought some relief after more than a month of waiting.
Hani said she remained hopeful her husband would be found, but accepted that the families needed certainty over the status of those still missing.
“As a Muslim, I accept whatever Allah SWT has decreed and whatever the outcome may be. What matters is that we just want certainty about the status of the victims who remain unaccounted for.
“So that we can manage whatever needs to be done on my husband’s side and I can also move on with my life,” she said.
She also hoped search and rescue operations would continue for as long as there remained a possibility of finding her husband and the other victims.
She said there had been no new developments regarding the search, recovery of belongings or DNA test results.
Meanwhile, the father of missing Malaysian Rajita Sivan, P Sivan, 72, said the families needed official documentation to proceed with insurance and other compensation claims.
“Unfortunately, the necessary certificates, including death certificates, have yet to be issued. Without these documents, we cannot process insurance claims or other compensation payments to the victims’ families.
“I hope the Nepalese government will give full cooperation to the Malaysian government so that all matters can be resolved quickly and the victims’ families can receive the assistance and compensation they deserve without any delay,” he said.
On the matter, Unity Government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said Nepal had agreed to expedite the process of confirming the status of the 55 Malaysians still unaccounted for following a conversation between Anwar and his Nepalese counterpart Balendra Shah.
The Aug 26 disaster killed at least 1,453 people, while 5,644 were reported missing. Among those still unaccounted for are 55 Malaysians. - October 1, 2026
