MALAYSIA is negotiating with Nepal to find a way to formally establish the status of 55 Malaysians still unaccounted for following devastating floods and landslides, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said.
He said the move was important to help their next of kin deal with matters including insurance claims and other documentation.
Mohamad said the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu was liaising with Wisma Putra and Nepal’s Ministry of Law on the issue.
This follows Nepalese law, under which a death certificate for a person who has gone missing can only be issued after three years.
“So, if possible, we want to negotiate so that matters such as insurance and other things can be dealt with immediately.
“That is why we have asked the embassy there to liaise with the Ministry of Law in Nepal on how, if possible, the next of kin or immediate family members can obtain two documents.
“Documents that can confirm that the Malaysian citizens who, to this day, cannot be found can have their disappearance formally confirmed,” he said on the sidleines of the UMNO General Assembly 2026 in Kuala Lumpur today.
Mohamad said Malaysia was also prepared to consider providing further assistance if requested by the Nepalese government for search and rescue operations.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s SMART rescue team is expected to return home on Saturday or Sunday while Nepal continues its search for 55 Malaysians still unaccounted for following devastating floods and landslides, the Foreign Minister said.
He said any further deployment or action would be decided after SMART and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) submit their reports and assessments.
“Let SMART or NADMA provide the report and make an assessment of what action should be taken next. So that we do not act hastily or make a rushed decision,” he said.
Mohamad said Nepalese authorities had no plans to end the search and rescue operation, with about 5,000 people still unaccounted for across the country. - September 12, 2026
